The Vatican has formally declared members of a breakaway traditionalist Catholic movement to be in schism and automatically excommunicated after the group proceeded with unauthorized ordinations of four bishops despite repeated warnings from Pope Leo XIV and senior Church officials. The decision marks one of the most significant disciplinary actions taken by the Catholic Church in recent years and highlights growing tensions between the Vatican and factions that reject many of the reforms introduced since the Second Vatican Council. According to the Vatican, the rebel group carried out the ordinations in Switzerland without the approval of Pope Leo XIV. Under Catholic canon law, the consecration of bishops without papal authorization is considered one of the gravest offenses against Church unity because bishops play a central role in preserving apostolic succession and maintaining communion with Rome. Church officials stated that the unauthorized ordinations constituted a formal ...