On a weekend marked by both reckoning and recognition, the Vatican announced two major developments that have sent ripples through the global Catholic community. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Spanish Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76, amid a church investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. Just a day earlier, the pontiff had authorized the beatification of two Italian priests martyred under Nazi occupation, and recognized the heroic virtues of four other Catholic figures from around the world. The juxtaposition of these events highlights the Church’s ongoing struggle to confront its troubled past while also celebrating those who embodied its ideals in the darkest of times.
According to El País, the resignation of Bishop Zornoza—who led the diocese of Cádiz—was not simply a matter of age. While Zornoza had submitted his resignation upon turning 75, as is customary for bishops, it was only accepted after reports emerged earlier this month that he was under investigation by a church tribunal for alleged sexual abuse of a young seminarian during the 1990s. The newspaper, which has played a significant role in exposing decades of abuse and cover-up in the Spanish Catholic Church since 2018, detailed accusations that Zornoza fondled and regularly slept with the former seminarian from ages 14 to 21, and even persuaded him to see a psychiatrist to "cure" his homosexuality.
The diocese of Cádiz has denied the accusations but confirmed that an investigation is ongoing by the church court in Madrid, known as the Rota. In a statement released on November 10, 2025, the diocese said that Zornoza was cooperating with the investigation, had suspended his agenda to clarify the facts, and was also undergoing treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. The statement insisted, "The accusations made, referring to events that took place almost 30 years ago, are very serious and also false."
This case is believed to be the first publicly known instance of a bishop being both retired and placed under investigation for alleged abuse since the Spanish church began a more public reckoning with its legacy of abuse and cover-up. The timing is significant: in 2023, Spain’s first official probe into abuse within the church estimated that the number of victims could be in the hundreds of thousands, based on an 18-month investigation of 487 cases conducted by the office of the ombudsman. While Spain’s Catholic bishops apologized, they also dismissed interpretations of the ombudsman’s report as a "lie," arguing that many more people had been abused outside the church. By 2024, the Spanish Catholic hierarchy acknowledged evidence of 728 sexual abusers within the church since 1945 and launched a plan to compensate victims, following government approval of mandatory reparations.
As the Church in Spain grapples with its history, the Vatican has also sought to highlight stories of courage and faith. On Friday, November 21, 2025, Pope Leo XIV authorized the promulgation of decrees regarding the martyrdom of two young Italian priests—Fr. Ubaldo Marchioni and Fr. Martino Capelli—both killed by the Nazis in 1944 during the occupation of Emilia Romagna, Italy. Their beatification is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by clergy who refused to abandon their communities in times of peril.
Fr. Ubaldo Marchioni, just 26 years old at the time of his death, was serving as bursar of the parish of San Martino di Caprara. On September 29, 1944, as Nazi troops swept through the region, Fr. Ubaldo sought to protect his parishioners. He urged the men to hide in the woods, but remained with women and children inside the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Casaglia. When negotiations with the Nazis failed, all were taken to the cemetery and killed. Fr. Ubaldo was then brought back to the church and shot in the head in front of the altar. The brutality of the act, and the mutilation of his body, underscored what the Vatican described as "odium fidei"—hatred of the faith. Despite opportunities to escape, Fr. Ubaldo chose to stay, fully aware of the risks.
Fr. Martino Capelli, aged 32, was a Dehonian religious and chaplain at San Michele di Salvaro. After the Nazi massacre in nearby Creda, Fr. Martino rushed to comfort the dying. Imprisoned and forced to transport ammunition, he was eventually taken, along with Salesian Fr. Elia Comini and about a hundred others, to a stable in Pioppe di Salvaro. There, he continued his ministry, hearing confessions and offering solace. On October 1, 1944, Fr. Martino was executed near the cistern of the silk-mill at Pioppe di Salvaro, his body thrown into the River Reno. Like Fr. Ubaldo, he could have left for safety but chose to remain with his flock.
Alongside these beatifications, Pope Leo XIV also recognized the heroic virtues of four other figures, moving them closer to sainthood. The list includes Archbishop Enrico Bartoletti of Lucca, Italy, who played a pivotal role in the post-Vatican II Church and served as secretary of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Bartoletti was known for his mediating abilities and his commitment to ecclesial renewal, dying suddenly in 1976 at the age of 59.
Another is Fr. Gaspare Goggi, a priest of the Little Work of Divine Providence, who ministered to the poor in early 20th-century Italy and was revered as a "little saint" by his parishioners. He died in 1908 at the age of 31, his funeral attended by a large crowd—a testament to his impact on the community.
Sister Maria of the Sacred Heart, born Maria Glowrey in Australia, became a missionary nun in India. Earning her medical degree in 1910, she dedicated her life to serving women and children in a society marked by poverty and caste divisions. She founded the Catholic Health Association of India and expanded a small dispensary into today’s Saint Joseph’s Hospital, training medical staff and advocating for Catholic medical ethics. Stricken with cancer, she died in Bangalore in 1957, but her legacy continues to shape healthcare in India.
Maria de Lourdes Guarda, a Brazilian consecrated laywoman, spent nearly fifty years bedridden due to a severe spinal injury. Despite her disabilities, she played a vital role in the inclusion and rights of people with disabilities in Brazil, serving as national coordinator of the “Fraternity of Persons with Disabilities.” Her hospital room became a hub of apostolic activity, and her reputation for holiness only grew after her death in 1996.
These announcements from the Vatican, coming in quick succession, reflect a Church at a crossroads—determined to confront painful truths while also honoring those who lived out its highest values. Whether reckoning with the legacy of abuse or recognizing the courage of martyrs and saints, the Catholic Church under Pope Leo XIV faces the challenge of holding both sorrow and hope in balance as it charts its future.
