The Bishop of Cadiz, Monsignor Rafael Zornoza, resigned after undergoing a canonical investigation. Vatican for alleged accusations of sexual assault on a minor in the 1990s. This case is unprecedented in Spain, as it is the first time a sitting bishop has been publicly implicated in such proceedings. Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation on November 22, 2025, marking a significant step in the fight against abuses within the Spanish Catholic Church. The accusation concerns events during Bishop Zornoza's time as director of a seminary near Madrid, where a former seminarian claims to have been abused between the ages of 14 and 21. The bishop firmly denies these allegations and is cooperating with the investigation while having suspended his official duties, notably to undergo treatment for an aggressive cancer.
Context of the case and course of the investigation
The main accuser sent his complaint to Vatican During the summer of 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith opened a canonical investigation. The investigation concerns alleged events that occurred between 1994 and the early 2000s when Monsignor Zornoza was rector of the diocesan seminary in Getafe, a suburb of Madrid. According to the complaint, repeated sexual assaults and psychological pressure, including attempts at "conversion therapy" to "cure" homosexuality, were allegedly exerted on the young man. This case comes in the context of a climate The revelation and recognition of the problem of sexual abuse in the Spanish Church, with several hundred abusers identified since World War II, have been significant. Despite the statute of limitations under civil law, ecclesiastical justice continues its investigations by applying internal procedures.
Consequences and appointment of a successor
After the resignation was accepted, the Pope Leo XIV The Spanish Episcopal Conference has appointed Bishop Ramón Darío Valdivia Giménez, Auxiliary Bishop of Seville since 2023, as the new Bishop of Cádiz and Ceuta. This appointment is seen as a strong act to ensure pastoral continuity and restore the trust of the faithful in the region. Furthermore, the Spanish Episcopal Conference is calling for respect for the presumption of innocence pending the outcome of the investigation. This case has also reignited debates in Spain about transparency in the Church and the need for rigorous support for victims of abuse. Bishop Zornoza's resignation, linked to both the investigation and his health, opens a new chapter in the Church's journey in the face of past scandals.
This issue illustrates a historic and critical moment for the Spanish Catholic Church, with a resigning bishop publicly facing serious accusations—the first such investigation conducted at the highest level of the Spanish hierarchy. The swift appointment of a successor underscores the importance of a firm institutional response, combining internal justice and pastoral care.
