Pope May Accept Resignation of Spanish Bishop Accused of Abuse

👤Pope Leo XIV may soon accept the resignation of a Spanish bishop who is under church investigation for allegations that he sexually abused a young seminarian in the 1990s.

According to The Associated Press, Archbishop Luis Javier Argüello García, head of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, told reporters Monday in St. Peter’s Square that he had spoken with Leo about the case during a private audience.

His comments confirmed reports from El País that Cádiz Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76, is now the subject of a canonical investigation opened two weeks ago.

It marks what is believed to be the first publicly known church investigation of a Spanish bishop accused of 🚨Abuse since the country began confronting decades of misconduct and institutional cover-up.

The diocese of Cádiz has denied the accusations but acknowledged the inquiry, noting it is being handled by the Rota, the church court in Madrid.

In a Nov. 10 statement, the diocese said Zornoza was cooperating and had paused his public schedule “to clarify the facts and to 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 statement said.