The Salesian Cardinals

Don Bosco’s Sons Who Became Cardinals
Abp. Cristobal Lopez Romero

(ANS – Rome – Sept. 29, 2023) – The 18th Salesian, in chronological order, to be admitted among the cardinals of the Catholic Church was Spaniard Cristobal Lopez Romero, called to this role by Pope Francis in the consistory of October 5, 2019. A born communicator, he has served the people of God on three continents, always using his voice and his authority to defend the rights of the weakest in the true Salesian style.

Cristobal Lopez Romero was born on May 19, 1952, in Velez-Rubio in the diocese of Almeria, in southern Spain. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Catalonia. After completing his secondary studies at the Salesian school in Gerona, he entered the Salesian novitiate in Godelleta and made his 1st profession on August 16, 1968. In Barcelona he studied philosophy (1973-1975) and theology (1975-1979). Passionate about communication, he also obtained a degree in information sciences, journalism section, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (1982).

He continued his formation until he made his perpetual profession on August 2, 1974, and was ordained on May 19, 1979.

After priestly ordination he held the most diverse and disparate positions, first in his native Spain, and then in South America in the province of Paraguay. He took care of the pastoral care of the marginalized in La Verneda and Barcelona (1979-1984), and then youth ministry in the Salesian Institute of Asuncion (1984-1986); in his new province he then became delegate for youth and vocational ministry (1986-1992); then editor of the Salesian Bulletin in Paraguay (1991-1992); pastor in Asuncion (1992-1994); until serving a 6-year term as provincial (1994-2000).

Subsequently he was director and teacher at the Salesian Institute in Asuncion and delegate for missions (2000-2002).

In 2003 came a great new change in his life: from South America he was sent by the superiors to Morocco, to lead the Salesian community in Kenitra and its Vocational Training Center, a position he would keep until 2011.

In fact, after having carried out that mission with competence and dedication, he was recalled to South America, but this time to take over the leadership of the province of Bolivia. He thus received the task of leading the province for a 6-year period, but in the middle of his mandate, in 2014, this service was interrupted: the Congregation entrusted him with the delicate task of leading the new province of Mary Help of Christians, Spain, the result of the reorganization of the previous Spanish Salesian provinces.

But his qualities did not go unnoticed outside the Congregation, and his skills were in great demand. Thus, he was unable to complete this mandate as well: on December 29, 2017, he was appointed archbishop of Rabat by Pope Francis. On that occasion, he immediately commented on Facebook: “Today it was made public that Pope Francis has appointed me bishop of the archdiocese of Rabat .... Someone will be tempted to congratulate me: resist it by turning it into prayer for this poor sinner who has now been called to a new service in the Church.”

He received episcopal ordination on March 10, 2018, in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rabat, by the imposition of hands of Cardinal Juan José Omella, archbishop of Barcelona. He chose Adveniat regnum tuum (Thy Kingdom Come) as a motto for his ministry at the service of the small Catholic minority among the Muslim majority.

As pastor of the small flock on Moroccan soil, Abp. Lopez gave impetus to the Al Mowafaqa ecumenical institute of theology, a term which means “the agreement,” “the understanding,” the result of the friendship and contacts between his predecessor and the Lutheran pastor president of the local Evangelical Church. In addition, he has repeatedly and publicly spoken out, calling for humanitarian treatment and attention to migrants seeking access to Europe from Africa.

From March 30 to 31, 2019, he welcomed Pope Francis to his archdiocese on the occasion of the apostolic trip made by the Pontiff on the 8th centennial of the historic meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil.

He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis on October 5, 2019. When he was appointed, always with an attitude of humility, he had the opportunity to comment: “With this appointment the Pope makes visible the small Church of North Africa, almost unknown to the universal Church, and seeks to strengthen Islamic-Christian interreligious dialog.”

He was later appointed by Pope Francis as a member of the dicasteries for Interreligious Dialog and for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.