Overview
- The Vatican accepted the resignation of Rafael Zornoza and appointed Ramón Darío Valdivia, auxiliary bishop of Seville, as apostolic administrator of Cádiz y Ceuta.
- Church authorities opened a canonical investigation into allegations that date to Zornoza’s leadership of the Getafe seminary in the 1990s.
- Zornoza had submitted his resignation upon turning 75 about 15 months ago, and its acceptance followed media reports disclosing the Vatican inquiry.
- The Diocese of Cádiz denies the accusations, says Zornoza is cooperating, and reports he has paused public activities while receiving treatment for an aggressive cancer.
- Civil prosecution appears time-barred under Spanish law, and this is reported as the first publicly known case in which Pope León XIV has accepted the departure of a senior prelate facing abuse allegations.