Vatican Excommunicates Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò After Harsh Criticism Of Pope Francis

The Vatican excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the former ambassador to the United States, declaring him guilty of schism.

Viganò, who retired in 2016 at 75, is one of Pope Francis’ most avid critics. 

While he, at one point, enjoyed support in the Vatican and U.S. church hierarchies, the Italian archbishop alienated many. He developed a fringe following and delved deeper into conspiracy theories on subjects like the COVID-19 pandemic, what he called the “Great Reset,” and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

His pronunciations about the state of the church, which were magnified on Catholic social media and by ideologically friendly bloggers on both sides of the Atlantic, were an exaggerated version of the chasm between American ultra-conservatives and Francis. 

Even though the archbishop enjoyed mainstream support among bishops early on in his career, many quietly distanced themselves as his ideas became more extreme.

The Vatican’s doctrine office announced Viganò’s penalty after a meeting of its members on July 4 and informed him of its decision on July 5.

It cited his public “refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the church subject to him, and the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council.”

The Vatican excommunication means that Viganò is officially outside the church and cannot celebrate or receive any of its sacraments for having committed schism.

Schisms, which have been common in the church’s 2,000-year history, are viewed as particularly dangerous because they threaten the church’s unity.

Viganò expected the schism declaration after the Vatican told him of the penal process launched against him in June. 

He defiantly said that it was “an honor,” and he refused to make an in-person appearance, defend himself or issue a written defense.

On June 20, he issued a lengthy public statement refusing to recognize the authority of the Vatican’s doctrinal office “that claims to judge me, nor of its prefect, nor of the one who appointed him.”

He did not respond directly to the schism declaration on Friday on X, his usual forum. 

Shortly before the Vatican decree had been made public, he announced he would be celebrating a Mass on Friday for those who supported him and asked for donations.

In 2014, Francis declared during an outdoor Mass in Piana di Sibari, Calabria, that Italian Mafia members were excommunicated from the Catholic Church as they “follow a path of evil” that “must be fought against” and “pushed aside.”