After twelve days since it became known that the Vatican had opened an investigation for alleged pedophilia against Rafael Zornoza, the bishop of Cádiz and CeutaPope Leo XIV has accepted his resignation, which was presented 15 months ago when the accused reached the retirement age of prelates, 75 years.
The news has been known in the daily bulletin of the Holy See, in which The Vatican has communicated the acceptance of the resignation by Pope Leo XIV. However, has not explained the reasons of said decision, which occurs shortly after The Country reported that Zornoza had committed alleged sexual abuse of a minor in the 90s, when he was a priest and directed the seminary of the diocese of Getafe (Madrid).
For its part, the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) explained in a statement that the Pope has also appointed Ramón Darío Valdivia Giménez, current auxiliary bishop of Seville, apostolic administrator this Saturday. Again, reference has been made to the acceptance of Rafael Zornoza’s resignation (presented 15 months ago), but without mentioning whether the ongoing investigation against him may or may not have hastened Leo XIV’s decision.
In a statement from the Archdiocese of Seville, they point out that Valdivia has shown joy in making itself “available to the Church for the service that God wanted.” In addition to thanking the pontiff for his decision until the appointment of the new titular bishop, Valdivia has also expressed his gratitude to Zornoza “for all your service and welcome”.
The facts, of which The Country reported on November 10, would date back to the period between 1994 and early 2000, when the victim of the alleged abuses I was between 14 and 21 years old; For his part, Rafael Zornoza was 45 years old at that time. This summer, the complainant sent a letter to the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith recounting the events and demanding that action be taken. Four months ago, the Vatican opened the investigation against Zornoza to clarify the facts.
So, this would be the first time that in Spain it is known publicly that a bishop is being canonically investigated for a crime of pedophilia. This case has already prescribed before civil justice, but Church norms establish that, when a complaint for pedophilia is filed against a bishop, the investigation must fall to the metropolitan archbishop to whom the accused depends; in this case, that of Seville.
On Tuesday of this week, Pope Leo XIV declared that “the investigation must be allowed to continue,” stressing that the procedure requires protocols before measures are taken. “At the moment yes (he is still in his position), but each case has a series of protocols that are clearly established and he insists on his innocence“, the pontiff explained then.
When the news of the investigation became known, the bishopric of Cádiz and Ceuta rejected the veracity of the facts in a statement: “The accusations that are made, referring to events that took place almost thirty years ago, They are very serious and also falseIn addition, Rafael Zornoza explained that he would temporarily suspend his agenda to clarify the facts and continue dealing with an aggressive cancer that was unknown.
*With information from EFE
