VATICAN CITY. Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a staunch ultra-conservative critic of Pope Francis, has been found guilty of schism and excommunicated, the Vatican’s doctrinal office announced on Friday.
Vigano, who served as the papal envoy in Washington from 2011 to 2016, went into hiding in 2018 after alleging that Pope Francis had long been aware of sexual misconduct by U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and failed to act. Vigano demanded the Pope’s resignation and subsequently labeled him a “false prophet” and a “servant of Satan.”
The Vatican denied the accusations of a cover-up and last month summoned Vigano to answer charges of schism and denial of the Pope’s legitimacy.
In a statement released on Friday, the doctrinal office declared, “At the conclusion of the penal process, the Most Reverend Carlo Maria Vigano was found guilty of the reserved delict (violation of the law) of schism.” The statement also noted that he had been excommunicated, or banished, from the Church.
The archbishop was informed of the decision on Friday, according to the Vatican dicastery. Although the statement did not mention Pope Francis, it is highly unlikely that the excommunication was enacted without his approval.
Vigano, who primarily communicates via the X social network, did not immediately respond to the excommunication. Last week, he refused to participate in the disciplinary proceedings, asserting that he did not recognize the legitimacy of the institutions behind them.
“I do not recognize the authority of the tribunal that claims to judge me, nor of its Prefect, nor of the one who appointed him,” Vigano stated, referring to Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, head of the doctrinal office, and Pope Francis.
In a lengthy text, Vigano referred to the Pope solely by his surname, “Bergoglio,” accusing him of representing an “inclusive, immigrationist, eco-sustainable, and gay-friendly” Church that had deviated from its true message.
Pope Francis has garnered criticism from conservatives for his inclusive stance toward divorcees and the LGBT community, emphasizing mercy and forgiveness over strict doctrinal enforcement. Additionally, his advocacy for migrant rights, climate change action, and condemnation of capitalism’s excesses have further alienated traditionalists.
Last year, Francis dismissed another conservative critic, Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, after he refused to step down following a Vatican investigation.
The excommunication of Vigano marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between the Vatican and its conservative factions, reflecting Pope Francis’s commitment to a more inclusive and progressive Church.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
