A priest representing the Society of St Pius X, a traditionalist Catholic group recently excommunicated by the Vatican, expressed confidence that future papal leadership could restore ties with the mainstream Church. The group, which opposes changes in Church doctrine and practice, was formally severed from the Catholic Church after ordaining four bishops without the approval of Pope Leo earlier this month.

Georg Kopf, speaking at a mass in Wil, Switzerland, where the group is based, told congregants that another pope “like” Pope Benedict XVI might one day lift the excommunication and reestablish communion. Pope Benedict had previously reconciled parts of the Society with the Church in 2009 by lifting a similar judgment, which followed a comparable schism in the late 1980s. That earlier rupture was triggered when the group’s founder, Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated bishops without papal mandate, a move that led to automatic excommunications.

The Society of St Pius X, founded in 1970, holds an ultra-conservative stance within Catholicism. It accuses the Vatican of deviating from traditional teachings and rejects formal dialogue with non-Catholic communities. Kopf acknowledged the desire for a return to full communion "tomorrow," though he suggested patience may be required until the Church’s leadership changes.

In response, Vatican officials emphasized that the excommunication measures were a last resort following attempts to engage the Society in dialogue. The ordination of bishops without papal approval is considered a grave violation of Church law that automatically incurs excommunication, the Holy See clarified.

The latest schism deepens a long-standing rift between the Vatican and hardline traditionalist Catholics who resist reforms implemented after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Efforts to reconcile differences have often stalled over questions of doctrine, authority, and liturgical practices. The recent move to ordain bishops outside the Vatican’s consent deepened the divide, prompting swift canonical sanctions.

Despite the rupture, the Society of St Pius X remains active globally and maintains its commitment to traditional Catholic liturgy and teaching. It continues to advocate for what it views as the authentic faith and hopes that future church leadership will return to its position within the Catholic fold.