the charismatic figure of the Málaga bishop Angel Herrera Oria, Añoveros grew to his right-hand and in 1952 was elevated to vicar-general of the diocese. In 1952, promoted by Herrera Oria (who also acted as his principal consecrator), Añoveros was nominated the Malaga Auxiliary Bishop; his titular see was Tabuda. In late 1954 he moved to Western Andalusia, nominated the Coadjutor Bishop of Cádiz and Ceuta. At the new post he remained influenced by the strong personality of the aging titular bishop of the province, Tomás Gutiérrez Díez. Himself coming from an accommodated family, Añoveros developed interest in social issues already when in the Pamplona seminary; he pursued it animating the local Acción Católica, first during the Republic and later during the Civil War. At both his Andalusian assignments he continued co-operation with Acción Católica as its local delegado episcopal, becoming also increasingly involved in charity as Delegado Diocesano de Caridad. He was noted as demonstrating utter interest in the poor, frequently visiting the city suburbs. At that time his relations with Spanish government seemed excellent: a former Carlist chaplain and mentor of Falangist youth cadres, in the early 1950s he was taking part in venerating ceremonies to honor Francisco Franco; a photograph of Añoveros friendly chatting with the Caudillo was splashed across front pages upon his assumption of the Cádiz post. Second Vatican Council Prior to Vaticanum II the Spanish preliminary input was rather modest. On the central theme of the Church itself it was reduced to a petition, fathered by Añoveros jointly with the Jaca bishop Ángel Hidalgo Ibáñez, that the doctrine of Cuerpo Místico deserves more elaboration. During the Council itself he participated in all 4 sessions from 1962 to 1965. Though Spanish bishops as a group constituted one of the most conservative blocs of the assembled hierarchy, Añoveros emerged in the middle, siding neither with the reformist nor with the conservative wing. His contribution to Vaticanum II was moderate; though counted among the 3,000 Council Fathers, he neither chaired any section nor was particularly active on any specific topic. However, he took part in a number of debates. The liturgical reform focused on enhanced participation of the lay in the mass. Añoveros was in the majority favoring introduction of the vernacular, resulting in the sixth amendment to the constitution on liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 1963); it allowed a freedom of action while at the same time making