The Vatican has announced the excommunication of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the former papal nuncio to the United States, following his refusal to recognize Pope Francis and the authority of the Second Vatican Council. The decision was confirmed in a bulletin released on July 5, citing Viganò’s public statements and actions as grounds for schism.
Viganò, who had previously acknowledged being charged with schism by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on June 20, opted not to cooperate with the process. Despite a directive to present himself and respond to the accusations, he chose not to comply, viewing the charges as a mark of distinction.
The Vatican’s decree, issued on June 11, outlined the consequences of non-compliance, stating that if Viganò did not respond by June 28, he would face a sentence in absentia. On July 4, the Congress of the Dicastery concluded the penal process, formally announcing his excommunication the following day.
According to a Vatican statement, Archbishop Viganò was informed of his excommunication on July 5, with the decision now resting with the Apostolic See for any potential reversal. His excommunication underscores his stance against the Pope’s authority and the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, marking a significant development in his ongoing dispute with the Vatican.
Viganò became well-known in the United States after penning a letter to President Donald J. Trump in 2020, describing the “Deep Church.” He has spoken out against the Great Reset and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and alleged Pope Francis was aware of the sexual abuse perpetrated by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick but refused to act.
His excommunication comes after the Vatican removed conservative Bishop Joseph Strickland from his post in Tyler, Texas, and defrocked noted pro-life priest Frank Pavone last year.