Pope Leo XIV sidelines Archbishop Ozoria, granting coadjutor full control of Santo Domingo’s finances and clergy in a surprising move.
Newsroom (14/11/2025 Gaudium Press) In a striking move by the Holy See, Pope Leo XIV has relieved Archbishop Francisco Ozoria of all administrative and financial responsibilities within the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, one of the oldest and most significant dioceses in the Americas. The decision, revealed through a public letter from Ozoria to local media this week, transfers near-total governing authority to the newly appointed coadjutor, Archbishop Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán, leaving Ozoria with only the ceremonial title of Metropolitan Archbishop.
The apostolic letter from the Vatican grants Archbishop Diplán “special powers exclusively for the administration of diocesan assets, for economic and financial matters, and for the management of the clergy and church personnel.” This unprecedented arrangement effectively sidelines Ozoria, who, at 73, had anticipated a gradual transition toward retirement in two years. In his letter, Ozoria disclosed that he had personally requested a coadjutor to ensure continuity in the archdiocese’s leadership. However, he expressed shock at the extent of his disempowerment, noting that he was informed of his suspension for “mismanagement” without prior warning or formal admonition.
“I was never admonished or warned,” Ozoria wrote, adding that the only hint of trouble came during a courtesy visit from Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, who vaguely referenced “certain accusations” against him. Despite the abrupt nature of the Vatican’s intervention, Ozoria pledged his obedience, stating, “I owe myself to the Church, I love the Church, and I obey the Church.” He vowed to continue serving in his diminished role with loyalty.
The Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, based in the Dominican Republic’s capital, holds a storied place in the Catholic Church as one of the first dioceses established in the New World. Its prominence makes the Vatican’s intervention particularly noteworthy, raising questions about governance, transparency, and accountability within the local Church. Canonically, a coadjutor is appointed to assist a sitting bishop and often succeeds them, but granting one near-total control while the incumbent remains in place is highly unusual. The move signals a decisive act of oversight by Pope Leo XIV, consistent with prior Vatican interventions in Latin American dioceses facing administrative or leadership challenges.
Archbishop Diplán, now tasked with steering the archdiocese’s financial and personnel affairs, faces scrutiny as he assumes this extraordinary mandate. Observers are likely to closely monitor how he navigates the transition, particularly given the public nature of Ozoria’s demotion. The archdiocese’s operations, from clergy assignments to the management of significant diocesan assets, now rest in Diplán’s hands, with Ozoria relegated to a largely symbolic role.
Ozoria, for his part, has emphasized his decades of service and commitment to the Church, framing his acceptance of the decision as an act of fidelity. “I have given my life to this Church,” he said, underscoring his intention to remain a cooperative figurehead until his retirement.
The Vatican’s silence on the specific allegations of mismanagement has fueled speculation about the underlying reasons for such a drastic step. The lack of transparency regarding the “certain accusations” referenced by Cardinal Ouellet has further complicated the narrative, leaving local Catholics and clergy to grapple with uncertainty about their leadership.
As the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo enters this new chapter under Diplán’s administration, the broader implications for the Dominican Republic’s Catholic community and its relationship with the Holy See remain unclear. What is certain is that Pope Leo XIV’s bold intervention has reshaped the archdiocese’s governance, setting the stage for a closely watched transition in one of the Caribbean’s most historic dioceses.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald
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