The Vatican warned on Wednesday that a traditionalist Catholic group risked excommunication if it proceeded to ordain new bishops without the Pope's permission.
In a statement, the Vatican asked this movement, which is attached to the traditional Latin Mass, to abandon its plan to ordain bishops without the consent of Pope Leo XIII.
According to Catholic authorities, such an initiative would constitute a schismatic act likely to lead to a formal break with the Catholic Church, which has approximately 1,4 billion faithful worldwide.
The Vatican believes that appointing bishops without a papal mandate would undermine the unity of the Church and the authority of the Pope.
This case is part of the ongoing tensions between Rome and certain traditionalist groups opposed to modern liturgical reforms and attached to the celebration of Mass in Latin according to the ancient rites.
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