Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a leading critic of Pope Francis, has recently stated that he is being tried for schism by the Vatican. Viganò has been at odds with Pope Francis over the direction of the Catholic Church, particularly around issues such as the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community and the pope’s support for same-sex couples. Pope Francis has been viewed as more liberal on social issues compared to his predecessors, which has led to criticism from more conservative Catholics. Viganò has become a popular figure among some U.S. conservatives due to his support for former President Donald Trump.
The accusations against Viganò include denying the legitimacy of Pope Francis, breaking communion with him, and rejecting the Second Vatican Council, which have led to the charge of schism. Viganò described the trial as an “extrajudicial process” and viewed the accusations as an “honor” in an open letter he penned about the trial. He has taken a defiant tone against Pope Francis’ leadership, stating that Catholics cannot be in communion with the “Bergoglian church” as it goes against the teachings of previous popes and the Church of Christ. Viganò believes that Catholics must question the systematic destruction of the Church by its leaders.
Vatican has not confirmed the trial or commented on Viganò’s accusations. Viganò had previously called for Pope Francis to be arrested over a controversy surrounding a book written by a cardinal about sexuality in 1998 and called for a “mass exorcism” over the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He was also against shutting down church services to prevent the spread of the virus. Viganò served as a Vatican ambassador to the U.S. for five years and was the Apostolic Nuncio from 2011 to 2016.
Despite the lack of confirmation from the Vatican on the trial, Viganò maintains his stance against Pope Francis, stating that the Church is being led in a direction that is contrary to its historical teachings. He believes that Catholics must resist the systematic destruction of the Church by its leaders and question the actions of the “Bergoglian church.” Viganò has been a vocal critic of the pope on various issues, including his support for same-sex couples and immigrants, as well as his efforts to combat climate change. The divide between Viganò and Pope Francis highlights the ongoing tensions within the Catholic Church around social issues and the direction of its leadership.
