Don Fernando is one of the three who have been elected when they are no longer in government positions, so it must be deduced that the Pope wants to publicly recognize their services to the Church. What services Who knows best is the Pope. But anyone who approaches the figure of Don Fernando can get an idea. Fernando's service to the Church can be divided into three stages. Since he finished his programs of study in 1955, he was a professor of theology in different institutions of the Claretians. And since 1967, at the Pontifical University of Salamanca. He has never lost his love for theology, for books and for study. He is a profound man because he has never stopped studying. He was Dean of the School of Theology (1970) and President of the University of Salamanca from 1971 to 1979. 

Then he began a second stage. He was appointed bishop of Leon (1979), when the Holy See was looking for young bishops capable of channeling the necessary changes. And in 1982, University Secretary of the Spanish Episcopal lecture . It can be said that, since then, D. Fernando has been a man core topic of the lecture. He has worked very hard, has prepared a multitude of documents and has had to deal with all subject of governments and institutions. Many bishops testify that he has been the thinking head of the Episcopal lecture during these decades. He was not the only one, but he has always stood out for his criteria and, also, for his extraordinary capacity for work. He was University Secretary (1982-1988) and vice-president of lecture on two occasions (1993-1999 and 2002-2005). But he is also consultant indispensable for difficult questions and an authoritative voice in debates.
His brief experience as bishop of Leon (1979-1983) was later completed with his appointment as coadjutor of Granada and administrator of Malaga (1991-1993). And then as archbishop of Pamplona (1993-2007). This is the third stage. He has been a great bishop. The diocese of Pamplona-Tudela owes much to this serene and austere man, who has been able to manage difficult and uncomfortable situations with patience, vision and energy. Always without thinking how it would look better but what he had to do.