List of people excommunicated by the Catholic Church

Jus novum (c. 1140-1563) Jus novissimum (c. 1563-1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of the faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life This is a list of some of the more notable people excommunicated by the Catholic Church.

It includes only excommunications acknowledged or imposed by a decree of the Pope or a bishop in communion with him.

Latae sententiae excommunications, those that automatically affect classes of people (members of certain associations or those who perform actions such as directly violating the seal of confession[1] or carrying out an abortion),[2] are not listed unless confirmed by a bishop or ecclesiastical tribunal with respect to certain individuals.

In Roman Catholic canon law, excommunication is a censure and thus a "medicinal penalty" intended to invite the person to change behavior or attitude that incurred the penalty, repent, and return to full communion.

Excommunicated Catholics, however, are barred from receiving the Eucharist or from taking an active part in the liturgy (reading, bringing the offerings, etc.).

Painting of the excommunication of Robert the Pious
Painting of Catholic knights of the Albigensian Crusade fighting against the Cathars
Painting of Gregory IX excommunicating Frederick II
"King John Excommunicated" (from The Story of the Greatest Nations , 1913)
Public burning of Girolamo Savonarola and two other friars in Florence by church authorities
Painting of Martin Luther burning the Papal bull Exsurge Domine , which condemned his teachings as heresy
Napoleon Bonaparte was excommunicated by Pope Pius VII in 1809; Bonaparte Crossing the Alps by Paul Delaroche , 1848