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Pope Leo XIV appoints Mario León Dorado as coadjutor archbishop of Rabat

Catholic Intelligence1 min read

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Mario León Dorado, O.M.I., as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rabat in Morocco. Dorado, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, previously served as the apostolic prefect of Western Sahara.

Born in Madrid, Spain, on March 16, 1974, Dorado studied information technology in Madrid before earning a bachelor's degree in theology from the San Dámaso Faculty of Theology. He made his first religious profession on September 15, 1996, and was ordained a priest on June 2, 2001. His previous roles include serving as a parish assistant in Jaén, Spain, from 2000 to 2004, and working in the apostolic prefecture of Western Sahara starting in 2004, where he later served as apostolic administrator from 2009 to 2013. He has held the position of apostolic prefect of Western Sahara since 2013 and has served as the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Rabat since 2026.

As coadjutor archbishop, Dorado will succeed the current leadership of the archdiocese. ACI Stampa reports the appointment follows the July 8 self-suspension of Archbishop Cristóbal López Romero, who stepped down from leading the diocese following the opening of a preliminary investigation involving allegations of violence against women.

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Earlier version, Sunday 13 September

Pope Leo XIV appoints Mario León Dorado coadjutor archbishop of Rabat

Earlier version, Sunday 13 September

Pope appoints Fr. León Dorado as Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabat

Earlier version, Sunday 13 September

Pope appoints Mario León Dorado as Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabat

Earlier version, Sunday 13 September

Pope names Mario León Dorado as Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabat

Earlier version, Sunday 13 September

Pope names Mario León Dorado as new coadjutor archbishop of Rabat

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Sep 12, 3:04 AM Holy See Press Office Italiano Rinunce e nomine
  2. Sep 12, 3:16 AM ACI Stampa Italiano Papa Leone XIV nomina un coadiutore per la diocesi di Rabat in Marocco
  3. Sep 12, 3:05 AM Religión Digital Español El Papa nombra al administrador de Rabat coadjutor (con derecho a sucesión) del cardenal López Romero
  4. Sep 12, 3:28 AM Holy See Press Office Resignations and Appointments
  5. Sep 12, 3:17 AM Vida Nueva Español El Papa nombra al español Mario León Dorado como nuevo arzobispo coadjutor de Rabat
  6. Sep 12, 8:33 AM Missionari Oblati di Maria Immacolata Mario León DORADO, O.M.I., appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rabat
  7. Sep 12, 11:41 AM InfoVaticana Español Mario León Dorado arzobispo coadjutor de Rabat: el oblato del Sáhara sucederá al cardenal López Romero
  8. Sep 12, 1:07 PM Agenzia Fides Appointment of Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabat
  9. Sep 12, 7:17 AM La Croix Français Maroc : le Vatican nomme un archevêque à Rabat après le retrait du cardinal Lopez Romero
  10. Sep 13, 8:28 AM ACI Prensa Español León XIV nombra al P. Mario León Dorado Arzobispo coadjutor de Rabat
  11. Sep 12, 6:32 AM Alfa y Omega Español El Papa nombra al español Mario León Dorado como nuevo arzobispo coadjutor de Rabat
  12. Sep 13, 12:01 AM Riposte Catholique Français Maroc: nomination d’un coadjuteur à Rabat pour remplacer le cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero
  13. Sep 13, 12:20 AM cath.ch Français Affaire López Romero: le pape nomme un archevêque coadjuteur à Rabat
  14. Sep 12, 3:11 PM Vida Nueva Español Cristóbal López desvincula el nombramiento de un arzobispo coadjutor de su investigación por el Vaticano
  15. Sep 12, 6:28 AM L'Osservatore Romano Italiano Nomina episcopale in Marocco
  16. Sep 14, 2:09 AM Catholic World News Coadjutor named for accused cardinal (Vatican Press Office)

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