Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez (born October 31, 1936 in Barranca, Dominican Republic) is the current archbishop of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained on 18 March 1961 by Francisco Panal Ramírez, O.F.M., bishop of La Vega. He served as Vicar cooperator of the cathedral of La Vega, 1961-1963. Further studies in Rome, 1963-1965. Chancellor and secretary of the diocesan curia of La Vega, 1966-1968. Further studies, Rome, 1968-1969. In the diocese of La Vega, 1969-1978, diocesan assessor for the pastoral of the youth and pastor of the cathedral, 1969-1970. Vicar for the pastoral and pro-vicar general, 1970-1976. Vicar general, 1976-1978.