Military Archbishopric of Spain

Military Archbishopric of Spain Arzobispado Castrense de España
Emblem of the Military Archbishopric of Spain
Location
Country	Spain
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	5 August 1950 (67 years ago)
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Madrid
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Archbishop	Juan del Río Martín
Emeritus Bishops	José Manuel Estepa Llaurens Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus (1983-2003)
Website
www.arzobispadocastrense.com

The Military Archbishopric of Spain (Spanish: Arzobispado Castrense de España) is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Spanish Armed Forces and their families.

History

The first military bishop was appointed on 4 June 1819, but the position lapsed in abeyance in 1930. Twenty years later, a military vicariate was established on 5 August 1950, and a few months later the first military vicar was appointed on 12 December 1950. It was elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986 and is headed by an archbishop. The Episcopal seat is located at the Cathedral of the Armed Forces (Catedral de las Fuerzas Armadas) in Madrid, Spain.

Office holders

Military bishops

• Jaime Cardona y Tur (appointed 11 July 1892 – died 6 January 1923)
• Ramón Pérez y Rodríguez (appointed 7 January 1929 – translated to the Patriarchate of the West Indies 30 June 1930)

Military vicars

• Luigi Alonso Muñoyerro (appointed 12 December 1950 – died 23 September 1968)
• José López Ortiz, O.S.A. (appointed 18 February 1969 – retired 28 May 1977)
• Emilio Benavent Escuín (appointed 25 May 1977 – resigned 27 October 1982)
• José Manuel Estepa Llaurens (appointed 30 July 1983 – became Military Ordinary 21 July 1986)

Military ordinaries

• José Manuel Estepa Llaurens (appointed 21 July 1986 – retired 30 October 2003)
• Francisco Pérez González (appointed 30 October 2003 – translated to the Archdiocese of Pamplona y Tudela 31 July 2007)
• Juan del Río Martín (current incumbent, appointed 30 June 2008)

Noncombatant status

See: Military chaplain#Non-combatant status

See also

• General Vicar of the Armies
• Patron saints of the military
• Military chaplain
• Cruz Fidélitas

References

External links

• Arzobispado Castrense de España official website (in Spanish)
• Military Ordinariate of Spain (Catholic-Hierarchy)
• (GCatholic.org)