Pope Leo XIV has taken his first significant action against a cleric accused of sexual abuse by accepting the resignation of Spanish Bishop Rafael Zornoza, who faces allegations of molesting a young seminarian in the 1990s.
The Vatican's Response to Abuse Allegations
The Vatican confirmed the Pope's decision through a brief one-line statement, though it provided no specific reason for accepting the resignation. Bishop Zornoza, aged 76, had originally submitted his resignation last year upon reaching the standard retirement age of 75 for bishops.
The acceptance came only after Spanish newspaper El País revealed earlier this month that Zornoza was under investigation by a church tribunal. The publication, which has extensively documented abuse within the Spanish Catholic Church since 2018, reported the bishop stands accused of abusing a former seminarian while serving as director of the diocesan seminary in Getafe.
Detailed Allegations Emerge
According to documents seen by El País, the alleged victim wrote to the Vatican during the summer describing how Zornoza fondled him and regularly shared his bed from ages 14 to 21. The former seminarian's letter detailed how Zornoza allegedly heard his confession and persuaded him to consult a psychiatrist to "cure" his homosexuality.
The Diocese of Cádiz has strongly denied all accusations against Zornoza while confirming the Madrid church court, known as the Rota, is conducting an investigation. In a November 10 statement, the diocese indicated Zornoza was cooperating fully with the inquiry and had temporarily suspended his agenda to address the allegations and undergo treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.
"The accusations made, referring to events that took place almost 30 years ago, are very serious and also false," the diocesan statement asserted.
Broader Context of Spanish Church Abuse
This case represents the first publicly acknowledged instance of a bishop being removed and investigated for alleged abuse since Spain began confronting its decades-long legacy of clerical abuse and cover-ups. The scandal has profoundly impacted the once-staunchly Catholic nation.
In 2023, Spain's inaugural official abuse investigation suggested the number of victims could reach hundreds of thousands, based on survey data included in a report by the country's ombudsman. The independent 18-month inquiry examined 487 cases involving alleged victims who provided testimony to investigators.
Spain's Catholic bishops issued an apology but dismissed interpretations of the ombudsman's report as a "lie," arguing that more people had experienced abuse outside church settings than within them.
The Spanish Catholic hierarchy subsequently conducted its own review, reporting in 2024 that it had identified evidence of 728 sexual abusers within the church since 1945. This led to the development of a compensation scheme for victims, following government approval of plans requiring the church to provide economic reparations.
Pope Leo has not yet appointed a temporary leader for the Cádiz diocese, leaving the future leadership of the region uncertain as the investigation continues.
