The breakaway traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X has distanced itself from an Italian archbishop and former Vatican envoy to the United States accused of schism, after he compared himself to the founder of the society who also faced charges of schism.
In a statement published 24 June on their news website, the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) referred to arguments that Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who served as apostolic nuncio to the United States from 2011-2016 and who has accused Pope Francis of abuse coverup, has made in his defence in various online posts. In particular the society focused on Viganò at one point comparing himself to their founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was also summoned to the Vatican to answer to allegations of schism roughly 50 years ago.
