Archbishop of Toledo, Primate of Spain
Don Francisco Cerro Chaves.
Born on 18 October 1957 in Malpartida de Cáceres (Cáceres, Spain). He was ordained a priest of Toledo on 12 July 1981. He completed his secondary and philosophy studies at the Seminary of Cáceres, and pursued theological studies at the Seminary of Saint Ildephonsus, Toledo.
Following his ordination, he served in various pastoral roles in Toledo: parish vicar at San Nicolás de Bari, diocesan youth pastoral advisor, collaborator at Santa Teresa Parish, and director of the diocesan House of Spiritual Exercises “El Buen Pastor”.
At the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he obtained a Licentiate and Doctorate in Spiritual Theology (1997) with the thesis:
“The Experience of God in Blessed Fray María Rafael Arnáiz Barón (1911–1938): A Theological-Spiritual Study of His Life and Writings.” He is also pursuing a doctorate in Theology of Consecrated Life at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
He has authored more than 120 publications, written in accessible language for both young people and adults. Several of his books have been translated into French, Italian, and Portuguese.
He is a co-founder of the Priestly Fraternity of the Heart of Christ and founder of the Secular Institute Cor Iesu. From 1989, he worked pastorally in Valladolid, serving as chaplain of the National Shrine of the Great Promise, director of the Center for Formation and Spirituality of the Heart of Jesus, diocesan director of the Apostleship of Prayer, member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, diocesan delegate for youth pastoral care, and professor of Spiritual Theology at the Augustinian Theological Study Center.
On 21 June 2007, he was appointed Bishop of Coria-Cáceres by Pope Benedict XVI, and received episcopal ordination on 2 September 2007, taking possession of the diocese the same day.
He currently serves as President of the National Committee of the Permanent Diaconate of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, and as a member of the Episcopal Commission for Missions and Cooperation among Churches and the Episcopal Commission for the Clergy since 2017. He has also served on the Episcopal Commissions for Consecrated Life (2007–2017) and Lay Apostolate (2008–2011).
On 27 December 2019, Pope Francis announced his appointment as Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Toledo, Primate of Spain. From that date, he served as Archbishop-elect of the Archdiocese and Apostolic Administrator of Coria-Cáceres. He officially took possession of the Archdiocese of Toledo on 29 February 2020.