Cristóbal López Romerowas born on 19 May 1952 in Vélez-Rubio in the diocese of Almería, in southern Spain. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Catalonia. Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B., was born on 19 May 1952 in Vélez-Rubio Diocese of Almeria Spain. After completing his secondary studies at the Salesians in Gerona, he entered the Salesian novitiate in Godelleta, making his first profession on 16 August 1968. In Barcelona he studied Philosophy (1973-1975) and Theology (1975-1979). Passionate about communication, he also obtained a degree in Information Sciences, Journalism section, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (1982).
He then continued his formation until he made his perpetual profession on 2 August 1974, and was ordained a priest on 19 May 1979.
After priestly ordination he held the most diverse and disparate positions, first in his native country, Spain, and then in South America, in the Province of Paraguay (PAR). He took care of the pastoral care of the marginalised in La Verneda, in Barcelona (1979-1984), and then Youth Minisry in the Salesian Institute of Asunción, in Paraguay (1984-1986); in his new Province he then became Delegate for Youth and Vocational Ministry (1986-1992); then Editor of the Salesian Bulletin in Paraguay (1991-1992); Parish priest in Asunción (1992-1994); until serving a six-year term as Provincial (1994-2000).
Subsequently he was Rector and teacher at the Salesian Institute in Asunción and Delegate for Missions (2000-2002).
In 2003, a new, great change in his life: from South America he was sent by the Superiors to Morocco, to lead the Salesian community in Kenitra and its Vocational Training Centre, a position he would keep until 2011.
In fact, after having carried out that mission with competence and dedication, he was recalled to South America, but this time to take over the leadership of the Province of Bolivia. He thus received the task of leading the Province for a six-year period, but in the middle of his mandate, in 2014, he had interrupt this service: the Congregation entrusted him with the delicate task of leading the new Province of Msry Help of Christians, Spain, the result of the reorganisation of the previous Spanish Salesian Provinces.
But his qualities did not go unnoticed including outside the Congregation and his skills were in great demand. Thus, he was unable to complete this mandate as well: on 29 December 2017, he was appointed Archbishop of Rabat by Pope Francis. On that occasion, he immediately commented on Facebook: "Today it was made public that Pope Francis has appointed me Bishop of the Archdiocese of Rabat (...) Someone will be tempted to congratulate me: resist it by turning it into prayer for this poor sinner who has now been called to a new service in the Church."
He received episcopal ordination on 10 March 2018, in St Peter's Cathedral in Rabat, by the imposition of hands of Cardinal Juan José Omella, Metropolitan Archbishop of Barcelona, and chose "Adveniat regnum Tuum" (Thy Kingdom Come) as a motto for his ministry at the service of the small Catholic minority among the Muslim majority.
As pastor of the small flock on Moroccan soil, López Romero gave impetus to the Al Mowafaqa ecumenical institute of theology, a term which means "the agreement", "the understanding", the result of the friendship and contacts between his predecessor and the Lutheran pastor president of the local Evangelical Church. In addition, he has repeatedly and publicly spoken out, calling for humanitarian treatment and attention to migrants seeking access to Europe from Africa.
From 30 to 31 March 2019, he welcomed Pope Francis to his archdiocese on the occasion of the apostolic trip made by the Pontiff on the eighth centenary of the historic meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil.
He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 5 October 2019. ,And already on the occasion of his appointment, always with an attitude of humility, he had the opportunity to comment: "With this appointment the Pope makes visible the small Church of North Africa, almost unknown to the universal Church and seeks to strengthen Islamic-Christian interreligious dialogue."
He was later appointed by the Holy Father Pope Francis as a member of the Dicasteries for Interreligious Dialogue and for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
