Pope Leo just accepted the resignation of Cadiz Bishop Rafael Zornoza. 

This comes, according to Breitbart News, as the Spanish bishop faces abuse allegations.

An investigation into the matter is underway.

🛑 Zornoza: «Atenderé con serenidad y confianza en Dios mi defensa ante una acusación injusta y falsa».

👉 El obispo de Cádiz ha emitido un comunicado tras conocerse la aceptación de su renuncia por parte del Santo Padre.https://t.co/lA3Bp4bp1A

— Alfa y Omega (@alfayomegasem) November 22, 2025

Background

ABC News has reported on the abuse accusation.

Per the outlet:

The daily, which since 2018 has exposed decades of abuse and cover-up in the Spanish Catholic Church, said Zornoza was accused of abusing a young former seminarian while he was a young priest and directed the diocesan seminary in Getafe. The report, quoting a letter the former seminarian wrote the Vatican over the summer, said Zornoza fondled him and regularly slept with him from when he was 14-21 years old. The former seminarian’s letter said Zornoza heard his confession and persuaded him to see a psychiatrist to “cure” his homosexuality.

As mentioned, this allegation is still under investigation. Zronoza is said to be cooperating with the investigation.

In the meantime, the diocesse of Cadiz is claiming that the accusations are false.

In a statement, it said, "The accusations made, referring to events that took place almost 30 years ago, are very serious and also false." It also claimed that Zornoza is taking time "to clarify the facts and to undergo treatment for an aggressive form of cancer."

Pope Leo accepts the resignation

The Vatican has not had a lot to say about the situation. It accepted Zornoza's resignation with a very brief public statement.

Breitbart News reports:

A one-line statement from the Vatican said Leo had accepted the resignation of Cádiz Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76. It didn’t say why, but Zornoza submitted his resignation to the pope last year when he turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops.

The circumstances of the situation, despite the diocese's statement, are raising suspicions.

Breitbart goes on to report:

It is believed to be the first publicly known case of a bishop being retired, and being placed under investigation for alleged abuse abuse, since the Spanish church began reckoning in recent years with a decades-long legacy of abuse and cover-up that have rocked the once-staunchly Catholic Spain.

It remains to be seen how the situation is going to play out. In the meantime, Pope Leo has to replace Zarnoza. He, at the time of this writing, has yet to do so.