In the afternoon of this Tuesday, during an informal conversation with journalists in Castel Gandolfo, Pope León XIV addressed a wide variety of international and pastoral issues, from the war in Ukraine to the migration crisis in the United States. However, one of the most sensitive points came when he was asked about the situation of the bishop of Cádiz and Ceuta, Rafael Zornoza, accused of sexual abuses committed in the 1990s. The Pontiff emphasized that the Church has clear protocols for these cases and recalled that the case is already being investigated in accordance with the law. Zornoza has insisted on his innocence, but —the Pope indicated— it will be the investigation that determines responsibilities and consequences.
The open wound of the “Lute” case and the compromised credibility
Addressing the alleged victims directly, he stated that he hopes that “they always find a safe place where they can speak, where they can present their cases”.
It is inevitable to link this comment to the case of the priest Eleuterio Vásquez —“Lute”— in Peru, when in the past, he himself —as Cardinal Robert Prevost— would have been designated to guarantee that safe space and yet the victims of Chiclayo were left without judicial or canonical investigation.
Protocols, times and consequences
León XIV recalled that the Church has detailed procedures to address these situations and that all those involved must submit to them. He emphasized that the processes require time, and that the seriousness of the accusations requires respecting each foreseen step. The Pope insisted that the open investigation must follow its course, and that the conclusions derived from that examination will determine the institutional response.