Pope Leon XIV Appoints New Coadjutor Archbishop for Rabat
In a significant ecclesiastical development, Pope Leon XIV has appointed Father Mario León Dorado as the new coadjutor archbishop of Rabat, marking him as the designated successor to Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero. While Cardinal López Romero retains his official title as archbishop of Morocco's capital, he has stepped back from public and pastoral duties due to a preliminary investigation initiated by the Vatican concerning allegations of sexual violence and inappropriate behavior, which he vehemently denies.
The announcement from the Holy See did not address the ongoing investigation but focused solely on the appointment of Mario León Dorado, who previously served as the apostolic prefect of Western Sahara and has held the role of apostolic administrator of Rabat since August. This context adds a layer of urgency to the appointment, as the archdiocese has been in an unusual situation for over two months.
In the Catholic Church's organizational structure, a coadjutor archbishop is designated to assist the current bishop of a diocese, and unlike a simple auxiliary bishop, he possesses an automatic right to succession. This means that upon the vacancy of the position due to resignation, transfer, or death, the coadjutor immediately assumes leadership of the archdiocese. Therefore, this appointment not only serves to ensure continuity within the archdiocese but also strategically prepares for the future succession of Cardinal López Romero, without making any determinations regarding the allegations against him.
Mario León Dorado, 52, was born on March 16, 1974, in Madrid. He holds a degree in theology from the San Dámaso faculty after initially studying computer science. A member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he made his first vows in 1996 and was ordained a priest in 2001. His missionary work began in 2004 in Western Sahara, where he served as apostolic administrator from 2009 to 2013, eventually becoming the apostolic prefect in 2013, thus amassing over two decades of service in the region.
On August 1, the Dicastery for Evangelization entrusted him with the apostolic administration of Rabat, a position that granted him all necessary rights and faculties to manage the day-to-day operations of the archdiocese while awaiting the investigation's outcomes. From August 5 to 7, two Vatican representatives, Bishop Hyacinthe Dione and Father Augustin Chako-Yodi, visited Rabat to interview members of the pastoral and presbyteral councils, alongside women who have made accusations against Cardinal López Romero and others who wished to provide testimonies. Their mission also included assessing the economic, pastoral, and liturgical management of the diocese.
The scandal erupted in early July following an AFP investigation that reported accusations from at least five adult women against Cardinal López Romero, who was appointed archbishop of Rabat in 2017 and elevated to cardinal in 2019. He was also among the prelates speculated to potentially succeed Pope Francis in the upcoming conclave of 2025. Notably, no legal complaints had been filed with Moroccan authorities, according to the public prosecutor's office and police. The cardinal, now 74, has maintained his innocence, stating that he has "not committed any aggression, violence, or sexual harassment," yet announced his temporary withdrawal to avoid impeding the Church’s investigations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Cristóbal López Romero revealed that he had discussed the nomination of a coadjutor with Pope Francis as early as late 2024 and reiterated this request to Pope Leon XIV in October 2025. He expressed that he is still "awaiting" a hearing with the Dicastery for Evangelization, which is overseeing the case. In welcoming his new responsibilities, Mario León Dorado expressed his joy at this appointment, which clarifies the governance of the archdiocese moving forward. However, Cardinal López Romero will remain in office until his resignation is accepted or a different canonical decision is made. He is set to turn 75 in May 2027, at which point bishops are required to submit their resignations to the pope, who has the discretion to accept or defer them.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
