A Texas bishop with a history of conservative activism and criticism of Pope Francis received a Vatican-ordered “visitation” that ended on June 23, but the reasons behind the investigation remain uncertain.

An apostolic visitation is a rare procedure that can be invoked by the Vatican to review a diocese’s leadership and can lead to disciplinary action, according to the Catholic News Agency. A spokesperson for the Tyler Diocese confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that the meeting with Bishop Joseph Strickland had taken place but declined to comment on whether Strickland’s public comments on social issues and the Pope were the cause for the visit.

[I’m not surprised. Strickland’s criticism of Pope Francis went a step beyond the usual bounds when he linked to a critic that has questioned the pope’s legitimacy in office, which is arguably schismatic. Strickland publicly reversed himself when apprised of that situation, but that kind of action is almost guaranteed to get the attention of the Holy See. A visitation is unusual, but it doesn’t mean anything unless it prompts some sort of disciplinary action. Stay tuned. — Ed]