ROME. In an unprecedented move, Pope Francis has ordered the removal of Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, a prominent conservative prelate who has been an outspoken critic of the pontiff and a symbol of the growing polarization within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. The Vatican issued a one-line statement on Saturday, announcing that Francis had “relieved” Bishop Strickland of the pastoral governance of Tyler and appointed the bishop of Austin as the temporary administrator.

Bishop Strickland, 65, gained notoriety for his strong conservative views and active presence on social media, where he has criticized Pope Francis and has emerged as a leading figure in the doctrinal disputes within the U.S. Catholic Church. Earlier this year, the Vatican initiated an investigation into Strickland’s governance of the diocese amid reports of complaints from priests and laypeople in Tyler.

The Vatican investigators, Bishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden, N.J., and retired Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., conducted a thorough inquiry into all aspects of the governance and leadership of the diocese, according to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the head of the church in Texas. Following the investigation, a recommendation was made to Pope Francis that the continuation of Bishop Strickland in office was deemed “not feasible.”

Strickland, who had been critical of Pope Francis on various fronts, including the pontiff’s recent discussions on the future of the Catholic Church that addressed issues such as LGBTQ+ inclusion, has refused to resign voluntarily. He claimed that he was given a mandate to serve as bishop in 2012 by the late Pope Benedict XVI and couldn’t abdicate that responsibility.

One of the reported reasons for Strickland’s removal, as quoted by the conservative website LifeSiteNews, was his refusal to implement Pope Francis’ 2021 restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass. This move by Francis has been a contentious issue among traditionalist Catholics opposed to the pontiff’s more progressive agenda.

The decision to remove Strickland has sparked immediate outcry among some conservatives and traditionalists, who considered him a leading voice countering Pope Francis’ progressive reforms. Michael J. Matt, editor of the traditionalist newspaper The Remnant, described Francis’ action as “total war,” accusing the pontiff of attempting to bury fidelity to the Church of Jesus Christ.

The diocese of Tyler, in a statement, acknowledged Strickland’s removal but affirmed its commitment to its mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Incoming temporary administrator Bishop Joe Vásquez expressed his intention to travel to the diocese in the coming weeks to assess the needs of the priests, staff, and lay faithful during this transition period.

The rare move by Pope Francis to directly intervene in the removal of a bishop highlights the ongoing doctrinal tensions within the U.S. Catholic Church, with the pontiff addressing concerns about the conservative wing that has found support in the doctrinaire papacies of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Strickland, associated with more conservative bishops and figures, had backed conspiracy theories and criticized Pope Francis’ recent efforts to make the Church more inclusive.

In a statement Saturday, Strickland remained steadfast in his decision, stating, “I feel very much at peace in the Lord and the truth that he died for.” The Vatican’s move to remove a bishop without a voluntary resignation is a rare occurrence, and its implications for the larger U.S. Catholic hierarchy remain to be seen.