José Cobo Cano
Stored: José Cobo Cano
| His Eminence José Cobo Cano | |
| Bishop of Archdiocese of Madrid | |
| Home diocese: | Archdiocese of Madrid |
| Other diocese 1: | |
| Other diocese 2: | |
| Other diocese 3: | |
| Ordination: | 23 April 1994 by Cardinal Ángel Suquía Goicoechea |
| Consecration: | 17 February 2018 by Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra |
| Rank: | Cardinal |
| Created cardinal: | 30 September 2023 by Pope Francis |
| Personal details | |
| Born: | José Cobo Cano 20 September 1965 Sabiote, Jaén, Spain |
| Died: | |
| Nationality: | Spain |
| Education: | Complutense University of Madrid |
| Motto: | "In Misericordia Tua, Confidere et Servire" (In Your Mercy, Trust and Serve) |
| Role: | Diocesan |
| Theology: | Progressive |
| Region: | Western Europe |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Conclave Eligibility: | Eligible |
José Cobo Cano, born on 20 September 1965, is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church, serving as the Archbishop of Madrid since 2023 and elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.[1] Born in Sabiote, Spain, he was ordained a priest in 1994 for the Archdiocese of Madrid, where he served as auxiliary bishop from 2018 to 2023, overseeing social issue departments in the Spanish Episcopal Conference.[2] Known for his progressive theology, advocacy for migrants, and proactive stance on clergy sexual abuse, Cobo has emphasized a Church that engages with contemporary challenges, such as inequality and secularization.[3] His rapid rise to cardinal and appointment as vice-president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference in 2024 highlight his alignment with Pope Francis’ vision for a pastoral, inclusive Church.[4]
Cobo’s tenure has sparked controversy due to his limited episcopal experience—breaking the tradition of Madrid’s archbishops previously leading other dioceses—and his progressive views, including his refusal to officiate same-sex marriages, which he controversially compared to celebrating the Eucharist with Coca-Cola.[5] His handling of a 2018 sexual abuse case at an Opus Dei school in Bilbao, where he criticized the school’s response and pushed for accountability, earned him praise for victim-centered advocacy but drew criticism from conservative factions.[3] Appointed ordinary for Eastern-Rite Catholics in Spain in 2024 and a member of the Dicastery for Bishops and the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cobo’s eligibility for the 2025 papal conclave positions him as a key figure in shaping the Church’s future, though his progressive stance and alleged involvement in controversies, such as the Valle de los Caídos dispute, have polarized opinions.[2][6]
Biography
Birth and early life
José Cobo Cano was born on 20 September 1965 in Sabiote, Jaén, Spain, to Agustín Cobo and Pauli Cano Reyes, and was baptized on 23 September 1965 in the Parochial Church of San Pedro.[4] His maternal uncle, Lucas Cano Reyes, is also a priest, influencing his early faith.[5] At age seven, his family moved to Madrid, where he grew up in a devout Catholic environment amidst Spain’s post-Franco transition.[2]
Educated in Madrid’s public schools, Cobo developed an interest in law and social justice, shaped by his rural Andalusian roots and urban experiences.[6] His decision to pursue the priesthood came after completing his civil law studies, reflecting a blend of civic and spiritual commitment that would define his ministry.[3]
Education
Cobo earned a licentiate in civil law from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1988, the same year he entered the Madrid Conciliar Seminary, where he completed ecclesiastical studies.[4] He obtained a bachelor’s degree in theology from the San Dámaso Ecclesiastical University in 1992 and pursued moral sciences at the Redemptorist Institute of Moral Sciences, affiliated with the Comillas Pontifical University, from 1994 to 1996, earning a master’s in moral social theology.[2]
His education, combining civil law, theology, and moral theology, equipped him for pastoral roles addressing social issues like migration and inequality.[3] Cobo’s training emphasized the Church’s social doctrine, aligning with his progressive pastoral profile and advocacy for marginalized communities.[7]
Priesthood
Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Madrid on 23 April 1994 by Cardinal Ángel Suquía Goicoechea, Cobo began his ministry as deputy at Hermandades del Trabajo, a Catholic social work organization (1994–1996).[4] He served as vicar (1995–2000) and archpriest (2000) at Parroquia de San Leopoldo, then as parish priest of San Alfonso María de Ligorio (2000–2015) and archpriest of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (2001–2015).[4] From 2015 to 2018, he was vicar general of Vicaría II and a member of the diocesan pastoral council.[5]
Cobo’s priesthood focused on pastoral care and social outreach, particularly for migrants and the poor.[8] His leadership in the 2018 Bilbao abuse case, where he criticized the Opus Dei school’s response and pushed for justice, marked him as a proactive advocate for victims, though it strained relations with conservative clergy.[3] His roles in the Spanish Episcopal Conference, including the Department of Migrations (2020–2023), underscored his social justice focus.[4]
Bishop
Appointed titular bishop of Beatia and auxiliary bishop of Madrid on 29 December 2017 by Pope Francis, Cobo was consecrated on 17 February 2018 by Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra.[1] Named Archbishop of Madrid on 12 June 2023, he took canonical possession on 8 July 2023 at the Almudena Cathedral, succeeding Osoro.[4] Elevated to cardinal-priest of Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli on 30 September 2023, he became one of Madrid’s two voting cardinals, alongside Osoro, until May 2025.[7]
Cobo’s rapid rise drew criticism for his limited experience, as his predecessors had governed other dioceses, and for his progressive views, including his 2023 World Youth Day comments criticizing ideological manipulation of the Church.[5] Appointed ordinary for Eastern-Rite Catholics in Spain in March 2024 and vice-president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference in March 2024, he also joined the Dicastery for Bishops and Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.[4] His eligibility for the 2025 conclave underscores his influence, though controversies, such as his alleged role in the Valle de los Caídos dispute, have sparked conservative backlash.[6]
| Diocese | Role | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Madrid | Auxiliary Bishop | 29 December 2017 | 12 June 2023 | Titular Bishop of Beatia; focused on social issues |
| Archdiocese of Madrid | Metropolitan Archbishop | 12 June 2023 | Present | Elevated to cardinal in 2023; appointed ordinary for Eastern-Rite Catholics in 2024 |
Significant events
- Ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Madrid in 1994.[1]
- Appointed auxiliary bishop of Madrid in 2017.[1]
- Criticized handling of 2018 Bilbao Opus Dei school abuse case, advocating for victims.[3]
- Named Archbishop of Madrid in June 2023.[4]
- Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023.[2]
- Appointed ordinary for Eastern-Rite Catholics in Spain in March 2024.[4]
- Elected vice-president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference in March 2024.[4]
- Confirmed as eligible for the 2025 papal conclave.[1]
Books
Written about the bishop
- Martínez, Antonio (13 July 2024). "José Cobo: Un profeta en su tierra". https://www.diariojaen.es/provincia/sabiote/jose-cobo-un-profeta-en-su-tierra-BI9019669.
- de Lis, Teresa (30 September 2023). "Card. José Cobo Cano, one of a new generation of bishops". https://aleteia.org/2023/09/30/jose-cobo-cano-one-of-a-new-generation-of-bishops/.
- Onyalla, Don Bosco (25 April 2025). "Spain’s Cardinal Cobo to Participate in Conclave". https://www.aciafrica.org/news/10873/spains-cardinal-cobo-to-participate-in-conclave.
Written by the bishop
- No books or major publications by Cardinal José Cobo Cano have been identified in available sources, though he has contributed articles and pastoral letters on migration and social justice.[8]
External links
- José Cardinal Cobo Cano at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
- Biography of Cardinal José Cobo Cano at Archdiocese of Madrid
- Spain’s Cardinal José Cobo Cano: A New Generation at Vatican News
- Cardinal José Cobo Cano at Vatican Press
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cheney, David M.. "José Cardinal Cobo Cano". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcobcan.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Cardinal José Cobo Cano". 9 July 2023. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/09/230709a.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Cardinal José Cobo Cano". 30 September 2023. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/09/30/meet-the-new-cardinals-jose-cobo-cano/.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 "José Cobo Cano". https://www.conferenciaepiscopal.es/jose-cobo-cano/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "José Cobo Cano". 15 June 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Cobo_Cano.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Martínez, Antonio (13 July 2024). "José Cobo: Un profeta en su tierra". https://www.diariojaen.es/provincia/sabiote/jose-cobo-un-profeta-en-su-tierra-BI9019669.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 de Lis, Teresa (30 September 2023). "Card. José Cobo Cano, one of a new generation of bishops". https://aleteia.org/2023/09/30/jose-cobo-cano-one-of-a-new-generation-of-bishops/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cobo Cano, José (2 June 2020). "Hablar de Pastoral de Migraciones". https://noticiasobreras.es/jose-cobo-cano/.