The archbishop of Madrid, Antonio María Rouco Varela, is the new president of the Spanish Bishops for the three years 2008-2011. He replaces mgr. Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, president since 8 March 2005. For the cardinal archbishop of the diocese of Madrid, this is the second term, since he had already been president from 1999 to 2005. Born in 1936, the cardinal graduated in canon law with a dissertation on the relations between the Church and the State in 17th-century Spain. Since 1994, he has been the archbishop of Madrid. He has been a member of the Congregation for Catholic education, of the bishops, the clergy, of the Papal Council for culture, for the Interpretation of the legal texts and of Cor Unum. Since 2004, he has been a member of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signatura. Now, mgr. Blázquez will become the deputy president. For the first time ever, the assembly of the bishops can be followed on line at: www.conferenciaepiscopal.es
