The Vatican stated on Friday that it had excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the church’s former ambassador to the USA, after discovering him responsible of schism for refusing to acknowledge the authority of Pope Francis and the liberal reforms enacted after the Second Vatican Council within the Sixties.

Archbishop Viganò has emerged as probably the most unbridled conservative critics of Francis, calling him in public statements a “false prophet” and a “servant of Devil,” whereas embracing right-wing conspiracy theories and lauding former President Donald J. Trump.

In 2018, he wrote a 7,000-word letter calling for the Pope to resign, accusing him of protecting up sexual abuse by an American cardinal. Earlier, in 2015, he invited a critic of homosexual rights to greet the pope in Washington, difficult Francis’ message of inclusivity.

Since then, he has adopted anti-vaccine positions, and blamed “deep state” forces within the West for triggering the struggle in Ukraine and demonizing Russia.

Although excommunicated, Archbishop Viganò will be capable to maintain his title, however he won’t be allowed to have fun the Mass, obtain or administer sacraments, and maintain official positions inside the church hierarchy.

Archbishop Viganò didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Robert Moynihan, the editor of {a magazine} on the Vatican that usually communicates Archbishop Viganò’s opinions, stated the Archbishop had been summoned to seem earlier than the Vatican division in command of spiritual self-discipline on Jun. 28, however he didn’t come to Rome to take action.

As a substitute, the archbishop published a statement wherein he stated that he didn’t acknowledge the authority of the tribunal “that claims to guage me, nor of its Prefect, nor of the one who appointed him.”

He additionally once more attacked the liberal modifications within the church and accused the pope of committing a “crime in opposition to humanity” by selling vaccines. He additionally condemned the pope’s “adherence to local weather fraud” and Francis’ conception of a church that was “immigrationist, eco-sustainable, and gay-friendly.”

Francis has additionally punished different outspoken right-wing clergy. Rev. Frank Pavone, an American who led the group Clergymen for Life, was defrocked in 2022, and Cardinal Raymond Burke, a number one determine for Catholic traditionalists who believed Francis was diluting doctrine, was evicted from his backed Vatican residence final 12 months, according to reports.