Resignation and appointment of bishop of Ciudad Real, Spain

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ciudad Real, Spain, presented by Bishop Gerardo Melgar Viciosa.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Abilio Martínez Varea as bishop of the diocese of Ciudad Real, Spain, transferring him from the diocese of Osma-Soria.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Abilio Martínez Varea was born on 29 January 1964 in Autol, La Rioja, in the diocese of Calahorra y la Calzada-Logroño. He was awarded a doctorate from the Universidad Pontifica de Salamanca (UPSA).

He was ordained a priest on 30 September 1989.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar in Aldeanueva de Ebro (1989-1994), parish vicar of San Pio X in Logroño, delegate for the Lay Apostolate and Education, professor at the Diocesan Institute of Religious Sciences, ecclesiastical assistant of CONCAPA, canon of the Chapter of the Co-cathedral of Santa María la Redonda, and since 2004, episcopal vicar for Pastoral Care and Education of the diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada-Logroño.

On 5 January 2017 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Osma-Soria, receiving episcopal consecration the following 17 March.

Since 2022, he has served as president of the Las Edades del Hombre Foundation.

Within the Spanish Episcopal Conference, he is a member of the Episcopal Commission for Education and Catechesis (2017-2020), member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care (2017-2020) and head of the Department of the Social Weeks of the Episcopal Subcommission for Charitable and Social Action (2020-2022), and since 2020, head of the Department of the Labour Pastoral Care of the Episcopal Subcommission for Charitable and Social Action.