Italian priest excommunicated for slandering Pope Francis during Mass

Two different white men wearing clerical collars are seen in two side-by-side windows on a TV display

This screengrab shows Fr. Alessandro Minutella of Palermo, Italy, (left) and an undated photo of Fr. Ramon Guidetti of Livorno as they speak on the web radio program Radio Domina Nostra Jan. 2, 2024. Minutella was excommunicated in 2018 for spreading "heresy and schism" and Guidetti was excommunicated for a schismatic act Jan. 1, 2024. They both publicly hold that Pope Francis is an antipope and the late Pope Benedict XVI had continued to be the "true pope." (CNS screengrab/Radio Domina Nostra)

An Italian Catholic priest has been excommunicated for having publicly committed "an act of a schismatic nature" while celebrating Mass at his parish near Livorno.

The priest, Fr. Ramon Guidetti, dedicated his homily Dec. 31 to marking the anniversary of the death of Pope Benedict XVI, whom he named as being "the true pope" who "never fled the barque of Peter."

In his 20-minute homily, the 48-year-old priest detailed the qualities of "real priests" and cardinals versus those who side with "Bergoglio [Pope Francis] and his mercenaries." He said the See of Peter is occupied by a "masonic Jesuit tied to a group of globalists, an antipope usurper."

Bishop Simone Giusti of Livorno issued the decree declaring the priest's excommunication Jan. 1 and posted it on the diocese's website.

The bishop declared that Guidetti had incurred automatic excommunication, according to canon 1364.1 of the Code of Canon Law, dealing with offenses against the faith and the unity of the church.

The diocesan priest, who had been at the parish of St. Ranieri in the town of Guasticce since 2017, had "publicly committed an act of schismatic nature, refusing submission to the Supreme Pontiff and communion with the members of the church subject to him," the communique said.

The priest, it said, was henceforth suspended "a divinis" and removed from his office at the parish. The censure means he cannot exercise any priestly functions.

The communique warned all priests and lay faithful to not take part in any celebrations or forms of worship with Guidetti as they, too, would incur automatic excommunication.

In his homily, Guidetti praised Fr. Alessandro Minutella of Palermo, calling him a "pioneer" in being faithful to Christ and willing to "die for the church." Minutella was excommunicated in 2018 for spreading "heresy and schism" and continues to go on speaking tours and host a web radio program declaring Pope Francis an antipope.

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