Antonio Cañizares Llovera was born in Utiel, Spain, on 15 October 1945. He took a licentiate and a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca and was ordained a priest on 21 June 1970. A theologian by formation, he taught fundamental theology at Salamanca and at the Conciliar Seminary of Madrid, directed the Spanish bishops' Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith, and founded the Spanish Association of Catechists.
John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Ávila in 1992, Archbishop of Granada in 1996, and in 2002 Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain. Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on 24 March 2006, with the title of San Pancrazio — so close to the Pope's own views that he was nicknamed the “Little Ratzinger.” On 9 December 2008 Benedict made him Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the office he held until 2014. He voted in the conclave of 2013.
Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Valencia on 28 August 2014, where he served until his resignation was accepted on 10 October 2022. He missed the conclave of 2025 for health reasons.
Consequential Quotes
Renewal must be understood in continuity with the Tradition of the Church and not as a break or discontinuity.
Major Works & Initiatives
Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
Benedict XVI's choice to guard the Church's liturgical life.
Archbishop of Toledo, Primate of Spain
Head of Spain's primatial see under John Paul II.
Archbishop of Valencia
Returned to a Spanish diocese at Francis's appointment.
Controversies
The abortion comparison (2009)
After the Ryan report on abuse by Irish priests, and as Spain's government moved to ease abortion law, Cañizares said clerical abuse “cannot be compared with the millions of lives that have been destroyed by abortion. It has legally destroyed 40 million human lives.” The remark drew wide condemnation.
“The gay empire” and migrants (2015)
In Valencia he denounced the influence of “the gay empire” and questioned whether immigrants to Spain were fleeing persecution, prompting protests and charges of racism. He subsequently reversed his position, modified his language, and developed refugee-welcome initiatives, for which Francis recognised him.