In a move stirring conversation across Catholic and conservative circles alike, Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Rafael Zornoza of Cádiz, who is currently facing disturbing allegations from the 1990s.

The Vatican announced Saturday that the pope had approved the bishop’s resignation, marking the first known instance of Leo XIV removing a bishop under abuse investigation since his papacy began, as Breitbart reports.

Though the official Vatican notice did not explain, the decision comes on the heels of a Spanish media report detailing a tribunal's probe into Zornoza's alleged misconduct with a young seminarian between the ages of 14 and 21.

Allegations Emerge Decades Later

Zornoza, now 76, had technically submitted his resignation last year upon reaching the standard bishop retirement age of 75. It’s a ceremonial step most bishops take, but the pope isn't required to accept it immediately. The sudden acceptance this weekend raises questions about what changed.

That question found its probable answer earlier in November when Spanish newspaper El País revealed that a church court in Madrid—known as the Rota—was investigating Zornoza. The alleged offenses date back nearly 30 years, to when he was leading the diocesan seminary in Getafe.

The former seminarian, whose identity remains protected, reportedly sent a detailed letter to the Vatican this past summer, triggering the church tribunal’s involvement.

Details From Victim’s Letter Prompt Vatican Action

The letter claimed the bishop fondled the young man, coaxed him to share confessions, and would “regularly sleep with him,” all while attempting to have him “cured” of his homosexuality through psychiatric treatment, according to El País.

Zornoza has not responded publicly beyond a written statement through his diocese. Officially, the diocese of Cádiz has denied the accusations but confirmed that the investigation is underway.

In a statement issued on November 10, the diocese said, “The accusations made, referring to events that took place almost 30 years ago, are very serious and also false.” That's a line meant to project certainty—but it offers little clarity amidst the report's troubling details.

Diocese Denies Claims, But Probe Continues

Despite the firm denial, the diocese simultaneously confirmed that Zornoza is cooperating with the ecclesiastical court and has suspended his public duties due to both legal reasons and deteriorating health. He is reportedly battling an aggressive form of cancer.

There’s a disturbing irony here: while secular elites love to label traditional institutions as outdated or resistant to accountability, it was the Church that kicked off this process, not the government. Yet remarkably, Zornoza’s case is the first known example of a Spanish bishop being both retired and actively investigated in connection with sexual abuse.

This development occurs against the backdrop of Spain’s sweeping abuse reckoning, which officially surfaced in recent years. A state-backed probe in 2023 highlighted the tragic reality of widespread abuse, with victims potentially in the hundreds of thousands—but that study also drew sharp criticism from Church leaders.

Tensions Persist Between Church And State On Abuse Figures

Spain’s bishops rejected the state’s interpretation outright, branding the shocking reported numbers as a “lie” and claiming abuse was even more widespread in secular institutions. It's not about deflecting blame—it’s about demanding honest accounting for all abuse, not just in one corner of society.

In 2024, Spain’s own Catholic leadership conducted its own review, reporting 728 abusers in the Church since 1945. A compensation program was introduced soon after, following government approval to offer reparations to victims.

No temporary leader has been appointed for the Cádiz diocese yet. It’s unclear whether Pope Leo XIV will delay a decision while the investigation proceeds or quietly move toward installing a successor away from headlines.

For a Church still grappling with credibility in the wake of decades-old scandals, Pope Leo XIV's decision to let go of a bishop under active investigation may signal a new era—one that comes with more scrutiny, but hopefully, more healing too.