ARCHIBISHOP VIGANO' HAS BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE VATICAN?

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a prominent critic of Pope Francis and the Second Vatican Council, has been officially excommunicated by the Vatican. This decision, announced on July 5, 2024, follows an extrajudicial penal process conducted by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Viganò was found guilty of schism, a severe offense under Church law, which involves the refusal to submit to the pope or maintain communion with the Church.

Viganò has been increasingly outspoken against Pope Francis, even questioning his legitimacy as pope and accusing him of heresy. He has also criticized the Second Vatican Council, claiming it created a "parallel church" opposed to the true Church of Christ. His excommunication was declared "latae sententiae," meaning it was automatically incurred due to his actions, and it places him outside the communion of the Catholic Church, denying him access to the sacraments.

This development is part of ongoing tensions within the Church, where Viganò has become a figurehead for certain conservative factions who oppose Pope Francis' leadership and reforms. His refusal to recognize the authority of Pope Francis and the Vatican has culminated in this drastic canonical penalty​