Briefing
On 12 September 2026, the Holy See appointed Spaniard Mario León Dorado to the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rabat as Coadjutor Archbishop. Under canon law, the office of coadjutor confers the right to automatic succession when the incumbent’s see becomes vacant. The appointment was made against the background of an ongoing preliminary investigation by the Vatican into the incumbent Archbishop of Rabat, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero.
Cardinal López Romero voluntarily withdrew from public duties in July 2026 so as not to interfere with the canonical investigations; he denies the allegations. According to media reports, several complaints were brought concerning alleged sexual assaults of adult women; reports place the alleged incidents between 2009 and 2024. The Moroccan justice system stated in July 2026 that no complaints against the cardinal had been filed in Morocco; the Vatican proceedings continue independently.
Mario León Dorado, born in 1974, belongs to the Order of the Oblates of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and had already been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Rabat in early August 2026. By appointing him coadjutor, the Santa Sede aims to secure the ministry of a small local church strongly shaped by migration and ensure logistical continuity in relations with Moroccan authorities and religious partners.
Cristóbal López Romero formally remains the titleholder; the succession takes effect when the see officially becomes vacant, for example when a resignation on grounds of age is accepted (bishops submit their resignation upon reaching the age of 75) or upon another vacancy decided by the Pope. Until then, the appointment of the coadjutor and the ongoing canonical inquiry are established facts; no criminal findings have been made public. The Santa Sede announced the appointment without further reference to details of the investigations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).