in 1970, lefebvre founded the society of st. pius x (sspx), which is still the world's largest traditionalist catholic priestly society. in 1988, lefebvre made four new bishops to continue his work with the sspx. he took this step against the orders of pope john paul ii. because of this, the holy see announced the following day that he had been excommunicated from the catholic church. those who supported lefebvre think, this declaration was not valid.