There was the problem at that time that the Spanish Government helped to decide who was appointed Bishops of the Church in Spain.
If you read about Saint Vincent de Paul and stories of him and the Queen of France, you will understand how the royalty wanted certain people to be Bishops.
There was one famous story where the Queen of France demanded Saint Vincent de Paul (because of his fame) approve of a very unworthy candidate for Bishop.
He was told to write the name on a piece of paper and give it to her.
He gave her a blank piece of paper and said that if she really wanted this man made bishop, the Queen would have to write the name.
The Queen was mad, and told Saint Vincent he had to tell the mother of the man of the rejection.
The mother was so angry she threw an iron (as in used in ironing clothes) at Saint Vincent. Saint Vincent went away from the meeting with a bloody forehead.
I wasn’t there.
Pretending the Vatican had no dreadful part in things seems more than a little nonsensical, inaccurate, deceptive, to me.