Archdiocese of Bras�lia Confirms Excommunication of Priest Linked to Ultraconservative Religious Group

The Archdiocese of Brasília has confirmed the excommunication of Father Françoá Rodrigues Figueiredo Costa, who is affiliated with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, an ultraconservative religious group. The measure follows a decision by the Vatican.

According to a pastoral statement issued by the archdiocese on July 10, "the priest's ministerial acts are considered illicit from the moment of excommunication. Regarding the sacraments of penance and marriage, absolutions granted or marriages officiated by him are considered null and invalid." Costa says he has belonged to the fraternity since April 2025.

In a YouTube video titled We Were Not Excommunicated, Costa downplayed the sanction, saying he would continue his ministry "regardless of any declarations or sanctions." In another video, he said he acts "on his own authority" through the religious authority granted to him by God and addressed those confused by the excommunication.

Folha contacted the priest via an email sent to the fraternity on Tuesday night (July 14), but received no response.

The archdiocese also stated that Catholics who regularly or exclusively attend activities linked to the fraternity are likewise considered schismatics and excommunicated, and that services held at St. Athanasius Chapel are irregular because they are not in communion with either the pope or the Archbishop of Brasília.

The excommunication of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, also known as the Lefebvrists, took effect on July 1 after the ordination of four bishops in Switzerland without papal authorization, creating a formal schism and violating the decisions of the Second Vatican Council.

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