An Italian archbishop who has been a harsh critic of Pope Francis and once called the pontiff a "servant of Satan" and denied his legitimacy has been excommunicated by the Vatican, according to reports.
Carlo Maria Vigano was found guilty of "schism," meaning a split from the Roman Catholic Church, and excommunicated on Friday, the BBC reported.
"His public statements manifesting his refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the Church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council are well known," the Vatican said in a statement.
Vigano, 83, the papal envoy in Washington from 2011 to 2016, accused the pope of doing nothing in response to allegations of sexual misconduct by U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
He called for Francis to resign and described him as a "false prophet" and a "servant of Satan," Reuters reported.
The Vatican said it summoned Vigano to Rome to defend himself against his denials of the pope's legitimacy while rejecting his accusations of a coverup by Francis, the wire service reported.
But the Vatican said he did not appear or send anyone to speak on his behalf.
"At the conclusion of the penal process, the Most Reverend Carlo Maria Viganò was found guilty of the reserved delict of schism," the Vatican said.
In a posting on X, Vigano included the judgment from the Vatican, adding: "To my Brothers I say: 'If you remain silent, the stones will cry out.'"
