The Vatican's doctrinal office has charged Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò with schism, following his six-year period of openly criticizing Pope Francis and challenging his authority. Viganò, who previously served as the papal nuncio to the United States, has been a controversial figure due to his public statements and allegations against the Vatican.

On June 20, Viganò shared a two-page decree on his website from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, summoning him to appear for a trial. The decree, dated June 11 and signed by Msgr. John Kennedy, accuses Viganò of making public statements that go against the fundamental principles of communion with the Catholic Church.

This development comes after Viganò gained attention in 2018 for penning an 11-page letter alleging a cover-up of allegations against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and calling for Pope Francis to resign. While some of his claims have since been discredited, Viganò has continued to espouse controversial views and attract a following among certain right-wing Catholics. His support for former U.S. President Donald Trump, opposition to COVID-19 vaccines, promotion of Q-Anon conspiracy theories, and rejection of the Second Vatican Council have made him a divisive figure within the Church.

Despite his controversial stance, Viganò's posts on his website and social media have gained traction, with high-profile individuals such as Trump sharing his content. This has led to pockets of support within the U.S. Catholic Church, even though many mainstream Catholics have dismissed him.

In 2018, following Viganò's attack on Pope Francis, numerous bishops' conferences worldwide issued statements denouncing the former nuncio. However, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did not, and more than two dozen U.S. bishops expressed their support for Viganò at the time.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who was the head of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops at the time, strongly criticized Viganò's actions in a fiery response, accusing him of carrying out a "political frame job" and labeling his actions as "extremely immoral." Archbishop Santo Marciano of Italy's military chaplaincy also recently published an open letter condemning Viganò's spread of conspiracy theories.

In his June 20 blog post, Viganò characterized the charges brought against him as an "honor," and he further denounced the Second Vatican Council, calling it a "moral and liturgical cancer." He referred to the current Church under Pope Francis as a "necessary metastasis" of this cancer.

The Vatican's doctrinal office has not yet responded to requests for comments on the matter. The decree states that if Viganò fails to respond by June 28, he may be sentenced in absentia. According to the Church's Code of Canon Law, schism is a charge that can result in excommunication.

It remains to be seen how this trial will unfold and what impact it may have on the Church and Viganò's followers. The polarizing figure continues to be a source of division within the Catholic community, with his radicalized views finding some support despite criticism from the Vatican and many mainstream Catholics.