"Unity is not made by Pope”: Morocco-based Cardinal Elector Weighs In On New Papacy and Unity, Emphasizes Collaboration

In this context, he clarified that "the problem is not the disunity among us, but the distance we feel from Christ himself. What happens is that we are separated because we are far from Him," he added.

For the archbishop of the Moroccan capital, this unity "must exist because Jesus, before dying, prayed that we may all be one." 

Therefore, he said it's not just about being united, "but about being one, which is much stronger than being united," something that depends "on each one of us. If I separate, it won't be the Pope's fault." 

For this reason, the cardinal invited Catholics to "make the effort to feel deeply united to Christ," since "to the extent that each and every one of us is united to Christ, we will also be united to one another." 

At the foot of St. Peter's Basilica, the Spanish cardinal briefly but concisely summarized what the new Pope should be like: "a good person and a good Christian. That would already be a lot."

"It's about giving the Church and the world the person who is most suitable."

From the iconic square, where the entire world will gaze in a few days, the cardinal explained why Catholics should pray for the cardinals gathered in the conclave: “It's about doing God's will, and God's will is never obvious, never clear.” 

"We must discern, and in that discernment, the prayers of those of us who are about to make a decision or vote, and of those who are accompanying us, are very important, because we are all one," he noted. 

He reiterated that the cardinals' mission is to "do God's will" and to give "the Church and the world the most suitable person, the person God is already thinking about and deciding about." He insisted that prayer is necessary "so that we are able to do what we must do."

The Cardinals' mission is to "do the will of God." Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

A bridge between Europe and Africa

In 2027, Pope Francis appointed López Romero Archbishop of Rabat, the capital of Morocco, a North African country where 97% of the population is Muslim and there are only about 30,000 Catholics. 

He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of October 5, 2019. On that occasion, he emphasized in conversation with ACI Prensa that in Rabat "there is a tiny but significant Church, for the message we can convey to the Universal Church and the entire world."

“We are a Church that bridges Europe and Africa, between Muslims and Christians, between Spain and Morocco, between East and West, between rich and poor, between Black and white. A bridge. That is what we aim to be in this time when so many seek to build walls, barriers, borders, or even ditches,” he affirmed.

Cardinal López Romero is a staunch advocate of interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christians and Muslims, due to his leadership in Morocco. 

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“Showing the world that it is possible to live in communion with one another, despite our many differences, is already a sign of the Trinity, which is Communion within the differences between the three persons,” he wrote in a letter published in 2021.

Cardinal López Romero receives the Cardinal's biretta. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

From Spain to Morocco, passing through Latin America

Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero SDB was born on May 19, 1952, in Vélez-Rubio, in the Diocese of Almería. In 1964, he joined the religious family founded by Saint John Bosco, professing his perpetual vows at the age of 22, on August 2, 1974. 

After completing his secondary education at the Salesian seminary in Girona, he pursued further studies in philosophy and theology at the Salesian seminary in Barcelona (Spain). He also earned a diploma in Information Sciences, specializing in journalism, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1982.

Ordained a priest on May 19, 1979, he began his pastoral ministry caring for the marginalized in the suburban neighborhood of La Verneda, also in Barcelona. 

In 1984, he moved to Paraguay, where he spent two years working in youth ministry at the Salesian school in Asunción. There, he served as provincial delegate for youth vocation ministry, edited the "Salesian Bulletin," and also served as parish priest in the Paraguayan capital.

From 1994 to 2000, he was superior of the Salesians in Paraguay and also community director, as well as a teacher at the school in Asunción. He also served as a missionary in the Salesian missions in the country for a year.

He was later posted to Morocco, where between 2003 and 2011 he served as director of the Salesian community and in charge of parish and school ministry at the Kenitra Vocational Training Center. 

He then returned to Latin America as superior of the Salesian province of Bolivia, and also spent three years in Spain (2014-2017) as superior of the Salesian province of Mary Help of Christians.

On December 29, 2017, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Rabat, and two years later, he also appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Tangier, a position he held until February 25, 2022.

He received episcopal ordination on March 10, 2018, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Rabat, from Cardinal Juan José Omella. 

López Romero also promoted the ecumenical theological institute Al Mowafaqa , which means "agreement" or "understanding," the fruit of the friendship and dialogue between his predecessor and the Lutheran pastor, president of the local Evangelical Church.

From March 30 to 31, 2019, she welcomed Pope Francis during his trip to Morocco, on the occasion of the eighth centenary of the historic meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, ACI Africa’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by ACI Africa.