The Vatican has expelled bishops and priests of a traditionalist society, after the group consecrated four bishops without papal approval.
The decision, published in a Vatican decree, follows a ceremony in Switzerland, in which the the Society of Saint Pius X, defied Pope Leo’s call to stop the ordinations.
The Vatican says the consecrations violate church law and has warned that supporters of the group could also face excommunication.
According to a Vatican decree, the fraternity can no longer validly officiate marriages or hear confessions.
The Society of Saint Pius X is a traditionalist Catholic group that strongly opposes the reforms introduced by the Vatican II Council in the 1960s.
