Mario León Dorado appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabat

Pope Francis has appointed Father Mario León Dorado, a 52-year-old Spanish priest, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco. This appointment grants Dorado the automatic right of succession to the archdiocese when the current seat becomes officially vacant.

The move follows a crisis within the archdiocese involving Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero. The 74-year-old Cardinal has stepped aside from public and pastoral duties following a preliminary Vatican investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior involving at least five women. While López Romero has denied all accusations of assault or harassment, he agreed to withdraw from his functions to avoid hindering the investigation.

Father Dorado, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, has extensive experience in North Africa, having served as the Apostolic Prefect of Western Sahara since 2013. He had also been serving as the apostolic administrator of Rabat since August. His new role as coadjutor is intended to provide leadership stability and prepare for the eventual transition of power in the Moroccan archdiocese.