Santos Abril y Castelló is a retired Spanish Vatican diplomat who has had a long and distinguished career in both the Holy See’s diplomatic service and the Roman Curia.

Born on September 21, 1935, in Alfambra, Spain, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Teruel and Albarracín on March 19, 1960. After his ordination, Abril y Castelló pursued further studies in Rome, where he earned doctorates in social sciences and canon law at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Pontifical Gregorian University, respectively. Following this, he attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains Vatican diplomats.

Abril y Castelló began his diplomatic career in the Vatican in 1967, working in various posts, including assignments in Pakistan and Turkey. In 1985, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Bolivia. From 1989 to 1996, he served as pro-nuncio to Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. This was followed by being sent to Yugoslavia in 1996 as apostolic nuncio, and later as nuncio to Argentina from 2000 to 2003. Between 2003 and 2011, he also held the position of nuncio to Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia.

After his time in the diplomatic service, Abril y Castelló took on several key roles within the Roman Curia. In 2011, he was appointed vice-camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, playing a crucial supporting role to the Cardinal Camerlengo, particularly during any period of sede vacante between two popes. Later that same year, he was named Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal in 2012.

In his capacity as a cardinal, Abril y Castelló served in various Vatican congregations, including the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

He also participated in the 2013 papal conclave, which elected Pope Francis, and served as president of the Commission of Cardinals overseeing the Institute for the Works of Religion (Vatican Bank) beginning in 2014.

Abril y Castelló became well known for his role in teaching Spanish to Pope John Paul II. He prepared the Pope for his first international trip to Mexico in 1979, helping him to communicate spontaneously in Spanish and read prepared texts fluently.

During his career, Santos Abril y Castelló has also been involved in addressing serious issues within Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE). As Comisario Pontificio (Pontifical Commissioner) of the IVE, he had to confront numerous problems within the order. In 2023, he sent a letter to IVE members expressing concerns and laying out strict measures after years of interventions by the Holy See. These interventions included restrictions placed on the institute’s founder, who faced accusations of sexual and power abuses. Abril y Castelló noted in his letter that despite 30 years of efforts by the Holy See and four Pontifical Commissioners, little had changed in the institute. He reprimanded the order for an unauthorized meeting with its restricted founder, calling the incident “a truly serious matter.”