The Pope unjustly excommunicated Archbishop Lefebvre who was protecting the ancient Mass from the destruction intended by John Paul II. The Archbishop, moreover, correctly and appropriately evoked canon law--canon 1323--which decreed that no one could be excommunicated who believed he must disobey because of a state of necessity--an emergency situation. The Pope ignored his own law--unjustly. He was a modernist--and clearly despised Lefebvre's traditionalism. He believed there was no emergency--even as the Church was collapsing around his ears. The Archbishop was perfectly right to consecrate for the good of souls and the Church in general--and the Pope was completely wrong.
Behold, the "state of necessity":
http://www.traditionalmass.org/articles/article.php?id=50&catname=SSPX: Society of St. Pius XIn return, Ratzinger conceded a place for the Society in what Archbishop Lefebvre had always termed “the conciliar church.” Furthermore, Ratzinger agreed to suggest to the “Holy Father” to name a bishop, to be chosen from among the Society’s members.
The next day, May 6th, Archbishop Lefebvre violated the very agreement he entered into, by telling Ratzinger that unless the “Pope” named a bishop and prepared the Apostolic Mandate (the permission to consecrate) by mid-June, he would go ahead with the ceremony anyway. His reasons were that a postponement of this event would cause in the traditionalists a sense of disillusionment. Furthermore, he added, “hotels, means of transport, the immense tents which will be set up for the ceremony, have all been rented.”
Ratzinger and the Archbishop met on May 24th. Ratzinger convinces him that the “Holy Father” will select a bishop from the Society, and will approve of a consecration to be done on August 15th, a mere forty-five days after the much desired June 30th. Lefebvre responds in two letters, one to Ratzinger, the other to Wojtyla, insisting on three bishops and the June 30th consecration date, and that the “Tradition Commission” have a majority of Society members.