In fresh years, the Spanish Church has witnessed 2 fast careers that have elevated to crucial influences of previously unknown priests. Currently, both are considered the closest contributors to Pope Francis in the country. no of them stand out for conservatism or readiness to defend doctrine – while bishops considered orthodox were active in their careers. About how the Spanish episcopate of losing its rightful character wrote on the pages of pillarcatholic.com Edgar Beltran.
The first clergyman whose career must attract attention is the card. Jose Cobo Cano. Last year it was for him to take over the Madrid Cathedral after the resignation of Cardinal Carlos Osoro, considered a compromise bishop. He himself took over the agenda in 2014 after Cardinal Antonio Ruoco, seen as a decisive typical of the line of John Paul II and Benedict XVI in Spain.
Cardinal Osoro is liable for Jose Cobo Cano's staggering career, which allowed him to go “from wearing jeans to a red hat” in six years, as 1 of Madrid's priests summed it up in a conversation with the portal “The Pillar”...
A career that amazed many observers not only with dynamism, but was besides completely unexpected. For erstwhile the cardinal. Osoro appointed Jose Cobo Cano as an ancillary archbishop, which made everyone a surprise.
As Edgar Beltran wrote on the pillarcatholic.com portal, the Diocese of Madrid is simply a surviving structure with a diverse face. It lacks neither conservative nor progressive priests, and many churches effort to carry out very active pastoral activities. At the time of his appointment, Fr Jose Cobo Cano was not distinguished from this background... but for charity for migrants. Thanks to this work, the clergy made a number of acquaintances with representatives of the far-left political group Podemos.
At that time, the Archbishop of Madrid sought a nomination to strengthen his relation with Francis. He thought the best candidate would be a priest active in migrant projects. For the appointment of the second to the position of auxiliary bishop of the cardinal. Osoro was to lead despite strong opposition.
During his activity as an auxiliary bishop, especially during the process concerning a number of financial irregularities in the archdiocese, Bishop Cobo Cano was able to enter into a relation with Francis. erstwhile it was time to resign the cardinals in 2023. Osoro, he's the 1 who got to take over the Madrid capital. A year ago, the Grand Master is besides to know the Jesuit Elias Royon well – a close friend of the pope from the time of the seminary formation. According to any commentators, it is this Presbytery that gives the pope clergymen worthy of promotion.
Many believe that he is now the Madrid Archbishop and Vice-Chair of the Episcopal Conference as Francis' closest associate. However, he does not decide on extremist changes in the diocese. According to Edgar Beltran, this is due to the deep rooting of the Madrid Church in the influences of earlier conservative bishops. For now, Cobo Cano is being moderate. His progressiveness, however, can come to light with a revision of the seminary formation in the world, in which he is to breathe the "synodical" spirit by the decision of Francis.
The second character, who according to the writer “The Pillar” embodying the spirit of change in the Spanish episcopal, is Bishop Jose Antonio Saute, who since 2021 has been at the head of the tiny diocese of Tereuel- Albarracin. The priest is to enjoy considerable influences in Rome and, above all, the firm support of Cardinal Juan Jose Omelli, sitting at the Cathedral in Barcelona.
Even as a priest Jose Antonio Saute, he served for any time in the Diocese of Huesca, at the time headed by Bishop Jesus Sanz Montes, whose writer “The Pillar” considers “perhaps 1 of the most conservative bishops of Spain”. During this time, the clergy fell into conflict with a superior, whom he had no sympathy for. However, before the discrimination took place, the conservative hierarch besides contributed to the strengthening of the position of Fr Saute, entrusting him with the office of vicar general, who only took from him after the individual aversion of the Presbyterian was revealed.
As the priest from the Diocese of Huesca mentioned in an interview with “The Pillar”, Jose Antonio Saute “is 1 of those priests and bishops who never put the unorthodox too, but encourage others to do so.” His spiritual talent and his ability to work with young people are to be an asset.
According to information collected by Beltran, Bishop Tereuel is now to travel even all 2 weeks to Rome to see Pope Francis. erstwhile the time comes for Cardinal Omelli to resign, he is to replace him at the Barcelona Cathedral.
According to the writer “The Pillar” looking for characters who will decide in the following years about the face of the Spanish Church, these 2 clergymen should be considered. Both seem close to the spirit of Francis and open to alternatively unorthodox pastoral and theological visions. However, their implementation will depend primarily on the papal successor.
Source: pillarcatholic.com
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