“Please turn back!” Pope Leo XIV said in a final heartfelt written appeal, on June 29, to the superior general and “bishops, priests, seminarians and faithful connected to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X,” asking them not to go ahead with the planned ordination of bishops without the necessary papal mandate on July 1.

“I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act,” he said, speaking as the supreme guarantor of unity and orthodoxy in the Catholic Church, in a letter made public by the Vatican on June 30. The SSPX has a global membership of some 600,000 members, 700 priests and seminarians and two bishops.

He told them in unequivocal words that “to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity” and prayed, “may the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts.”

Concern that the SSPX would go ahead with the schismatic act of ordaining four bishops in the seminary at Écône, Switzerland, on July 1, had been expressed by a number of participants at the recent extraordinary consistory of cardinals (June 26-27), but no statement came from the consistory. Instead, the Vatican today published the text of the pope’s letter.

Father Davide Pagliarani, the superior general of the SSPX, responded by writing a formal letter to Leo asking him to take time before deciding any penalty.

“Far be it from us to separate ourselves from the Roman Church. We desire, on the contrary, to serve her by means that are extraordinary, as one would assist a mother in distress who requires particular help, even if such help is not understood by everyone,” Father Pagliarani wrote.

Marc-André Mabillard, the media manager for the society, expressed “great sadness to not be understood by our leader,” and added: “We are changing absolutely nothing in our plans.”

Asked by phone about the prospect of excommunication, Mr. Mabillard said: “We don’t fear it. It pains us immensely, but we believe that the good we seek is greater than the pain that will be inflicted upon us.”

The SSPX announced its decision to ordain new bishops after its superior general failed to get an audience with Pope Leo in August 2025 and, more recently, expressed dissatisfaction with a response from the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to a follow-up letter from the society’s superior general.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, met with Father Pagliarani on Feb. 12. The cardinal proposed “a specifically theological dialogue path, with a very precise methodology” to the SSPX to discuss “issues that have not yet been sufficiently clarified” between them. He offered them this possibility on condition that they “suspend” the planned ordinations on July 1.

Following their negative response after that Feb. 12 meeting, Cardinal Fernández issued a communique on May 13 warning them that ordaining bishops without the papal mandate, as they had announced they would do, would constitute “a schismatic act” and lead to their excommunication.

Most recently, in response to a question from journalists at Castel Gandolfo on June 16, about the impending illicit ordinations by the SSPX, Pope Leo said: “We have invited them, and I am still considering making another appeal, to say: ‘Do not do this. Let us try to live communion in the church. But it is their choice. They must understand what it means for them and for the church.” He added: “Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful matter, but they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the church, beginning with various points of the Second Vatican Council. And if they make those choices, I am sorry. But we must move forward.” At the same time, Pope Leo indicated that he might make a final appeal. His letter sent yesterday is just that.

Writing as pastor of the universal Catholic Church, Pope Leo began his letter—sent on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul—saying, “With a paternal heart, and aware of the responsibility entrusted to me by the Lord as the Successor of the Apostle Peter, I address you and, through you, the bishops, priests, seminarians and faithful connected to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.”

Leo XIV told them that “the church recognizes the devotion to liturgical life, commitment to priestly formation, apostolic zeal and desire for fidelity to Tradition that characterize many people and communities connected to your Fraternity.” He said, “[T]his has motivated the attentive and generous attitude that my Predecessors have consistently shown to you,” referring to the efforts made by four popes—Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis—to bring them back to full communion with the Catholic Church. “In this spirit,” Pope Leo said, “and filled with Christian affection, I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back! I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the Sacraments, which they love and seek for their sanctification.”

Pope Leo, who is committed to working for unity and peace in the church and the world, told the SSPX “the Church is open to a path of dialogue and understanding that the Holy Spirit can make possible and fruitful.” Cardinal Fernández had said the same in his meeting with Father Pagliarani at their recent meeting.

The Augustinian pope concluded his letter with these words: “I pray for you, because to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity. May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts. With a sorrowful yet hopeful heart, I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act.” He added, “I entrust these intentions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel.”

Sources told America that if the SSPX fails to respond positively to the pope’s request, the Vatican will declare those involved excommunicated for this schismatic act.

This article has been updated with material from The Associated Press.

Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.