The disciple of Pope Francis hated by Madrid's ultraconservatives

MadridA mass at the Almudena Cathedral this week became the epicenter of a new political controversy. The protagonist was Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and indirectly, the Archbishop of Madrid, José Cobo (Sabiote, Jaén, 1965), who officiated the mass. The funeral ceremony in memory of the victims of the Adamuz train tragedy was held at the request of the president of Madrid. —and amid criticism from the left—. Being surrounded by controversy is nothing new for Cobo. However, in recent years, the outbursts, and in this case directed specifically against him, have come from ultraconservative sectors of the right.

The ultraconservative Catholic organization Hazte Oír has had him in its sights and even organized a protest against him a few months ago outside a meeting of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), of which Cobo is vice president. Shouts of "traitor" and "Judas" were heard because he negotiated with the Spanish government. the reinterpretation of the Valley of the FallenAlthough the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) managed to prevent the space from being completely desacralized, the far-right perceived the talks as a total capitulation. The Archbishop of Madrid also criticized Vox for promoting obstruct Islamic celebrations in the Murcian town of Jumella and publicly criticized protesters with rosaries for mixing religion with politics in The protests in front of the PSOE headquarters in Ferraz

Cobo is a disciple of Pope Francis and rose through the ranks of the Church under his guidance. In 2023, in addition to being appointed archbishop, he was named cardinal—the youngest in Spain—and participated in the conclave that elected Leo XIVHe belongs to the more moderate sector of the Church – he is labeled "progressive" – and has distinguished himself from the more reactionary sector by openly defending reparations for victims of pedophilia.