Pope Leo XIV honors Cardinal Rouco Varela on 50 years of episcopal ministry

Pope Leo XIV praised the fidelity of Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela during a celebration for the 50th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.

The mass took place on October 31, 2026, at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Attendees included more than 20 cardinals and bishops, the apostolic nuncio, the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, and the bishops of the Archdiocese of Madrid.

Cardinal Rouco Varela, the archbishop emeritus of Madrid, was ordained a bishop on October 31, 1976, at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. He served as an auxiliary bishop there until 1984, when he became archbishop of that see before moving to Madrid, where he served as archbishop for 20 years.