Pope warns of schism after controversial bishops ordained in Swiss Alps

Thousands of worshippers gathered in the Swiss Alps this weekend for a mass organized by the Society of Saint Pius X, a traditionalist Catholic group that operates independently of the Vatican. The ceremony, held at a mountain chapel near the town of Zermatt, attracted an estimated 3,000 participants, many of whom traveled from across Europe to attend the event, which coincided with the feast of Saint Pius V.

The Society of Saint Pius X, founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, remains outside full communion with the Holy See, a status that has prompted periodic dialogue and occasional tensions with the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Local authorities reported that the gathering proceeded without incident, and the group emphasized its commitment to preserving the Tridentine liturgy. The ceremony underscores the continued appeal of the SSPX’s traditionalist worship among a segment of Catholics, even as the Vatican seeks avenues for reconciliation.