Benedict XVI never renounced his papacy

"Bergoglio is not the legitimate pope" – Priest excommunicated

Rome - A priest from Italy disseminated videos on social networks with the message that Francis is not the rightful Pope on the Chair of Peter. He has now been sentenced for this under canon law – with the most severe punishment.

Published  on 31.01.2025 at 11:12  – 

The list of priests excommunicated for schism is getting longer and longer - now a priest from the Italian diocese of Palestrina has been hit. According to media reports, this is due to videos on social networks in which Natale Santonocito claims that Benedict XVI never renounced the papacy, which is why Francis' election is invalid. "Bergoglio is not the legitimate pope and never was," they say.

The priestly powers of the Italian cleric had already been severely restricted in December after he repeated his positions following an episcopal rebuke. In the end, he was guilty of schism and incurred excommunication latae sententiae. The local bishop announced this measure in a decree on 20 January.

A schism is the refusal to submit to the Pope or to commune with the members of the Church subordinate to him, in particular the bishops. Anyone guilty of schism is excommunicated. Among other things, excommunicated persons may not celebrate or receive the sacraments or exercise any priestly or ecclesiastical ministries. In recent months, several cases have come to light in which clergy have been excommunicated for schism, including the Italian-Argentine priest Fernando Maria Cornet and the Carmelite Giorgio Maria Faré. (mtr)