Vatican banishes archbishop who branded Pope Francis ‘servant of Satan’ | World News

An ultra-conservative archbishop has been excommunicated by the Vatican after being found guilty of schism.

Schism is one of the most serious crimes in canon law and occurs when someone withdraws submission to the Pope or his Catholic subjects.

Carlo Maria Vigano was the Vatican ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2016, but went underground in 2018.

This came after he alleged Pope Francisco knew about the American cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s sexual misconduct and did nothing about it.

The Vatican has rejected this claim.

Vigano also called the Pope a “false prophet” and “servant of Satan,” before asking him to resign.

The Vatican’s doctrinal office announced Friday the excommunication (or banishment) of the 83-year-old man.

He said his previous comments made clear that he refused to “recognize and submit” to the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vigano had also rejected the legitimacy of the liberal reforms carried out by the Church in the 1960s, he added.

The statement said: “At the conclusion of the criminal process, Bishop Carlo Maria Vigano was found guilty of the reserved crime (violation of the law) of schism.”

Excommunication means that Vigano is formally outside the church and cannot celebrate or receive its sacraments, such as communion.

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As is normal, the ruling was signed by the head of the Doctrine of the Faith office and not by the Pope himself, but it is highly unlikely that the punishment was handed down without his approval.

Responding to

Vigano has cultivated a following of like-minded ultraconservatives over the years, delving into conspiracy theories and labeling the coronavirus pandemic the “Great Reset.”

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