Father Ramon Guidetti, a parish priest in Livorno, Italy, has been excommunicated after denouncing Pope Francis as a “usurper” and a “freemason” during his New Year’s Eve homily. This statement came as a shock to many, as it marked the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s death.
Bishop Simone Giusti of the Diocese of Livorno swiftly responded to Guidetti’s public defiance by declaring him excommunicated. This decision follows Canon Law which declares such actions as schismatic. Guidetti’s outspoken criticism of Pope Francis, including labeling him “an anti-pope usurper,” led to this severe ecclesiastical penalty.
The decree, dated January 1, 2024, explicitly states that Guidetti, by his actions, “publicly committed an act of a schismatic nature, refusing submission to the Supreme Pontiff and communion with the members of the church subject to him.” As a result, he faced an automatic excommunication, known as “latae sententiae excommunication.”
Following his excommunication, Guidetti remarked about the decree during an interview on Radio Domina Nostra. He said: “It’s nice, it’s really nice. It’s written well, very precise.”
Bishop Giusti stressed the gravity of the situation, noting that the excommunication was an automatic consequence of Guidetti’s breach of communion with the Pope and the Church. The bishop expressed hope for Guidetti’s reconsideration, emphasizing that “the doors are always open for him.”
Pray for Guidetti!
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Photo credit: Tim Pierce via Flickr
