An Italian priest has been ousted from the Catholic Church after harshly criticizing Pope Francis in his New Year's homily, calling the Argentinian pontiff an “anti-pope usurper.”

Father Ramon Guidetti was excommunicated following a decree from Simone Giusti, the bishop of Livorno, after a video clip of his 20-minute sermon in which he attacked Francis went viral.

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Giudetti said it is “a mark of pride to be out of this church, which is a tyranny,” and told radio host Alessandro Minutella, another priest who was excommunicated for criticizing the pope, that he will “frame the decree and hang it on the wall — it will be something I will boast about.”

In his order to oust Giudetti, Giusti said the former priest “publicly committed an act of a schismatic nature,” which prompted his removal from his office as parish priest. The bishop also told other priests “not to participate in any of his celebrations or other cult practices” lest they incur “the very serious penalty of excommunication.”

Hailing from Tuscany, Giudetti was known locally for his anti-Francis remarks, and his comments from the viral sermon were allegedly well-received by some in his church.

The Francis critic called the Pope “a Jesuit Freemason linked to world powers, an anti-pope usurper,” and only referred to Francis by his former name, “Mr. Bergoglio,” to undermine his papal status.

He contrasted the pope with his predecessor, noting Francis has a “cadaverous gaze, into nothingness,” unlike “good Benedict.”

There is a faction of Catholics who, to varying degrees, favor Pope Benedict XVI over Francis, who is often criticized for being too politically liberal and religiously ecumenical.

Francis is known for controversially remarking, “Who am I to judge?” in reference to homosexuality, something the Catholic Church teaches against. He also has drawn the ire of some Catholics for implying that atheists can go to heaven, despite the fact that no mainstream sect of Christianity teaches that.

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Francis’s being a Jesuit also draws criticism from those such as Giudetti, who link the Society of Jesus, or Jesuit order, to conspiratorial secret societies.

“I am calm,” Giudetti told Minutella regarding his excommunication. “But astonished at the speed at which the guillotine came down.”