Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, the 74-year-old Spanish-born Archbishop of Rabat in Morocco who was once considered a possible successor to Pope Francis, has stepped back from his duties amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
An AFP investigation states that at least five women have accused the cardinal of inappropriate physical contact, including “particularly insistent and prolonged hugs” and, in one case, an attempt at physical intimacy that a victim said she barely managed to avoid.
Some incidents allegedly occurred during his missionary work in South America, while others took place in Morocco.
One woman filed a written complaint with the Vatican embassy in Rabat in May 2026.
Cardinal López has denied committing assault, violence, or sexual harassment.
He acknowledged being accused of inappropriate behavior toward adult women, which led the Church to open a preliminary investigation.
He recently announced he is stepping back from office.
His vicar general stated that internal Church bodies should investigate the claims while upholding the presumption of innocence and emphasized, “We are not covering up for anyone.”
A Salesian missionary known for his work with the poor across Paraguay, Bolivia, Spain, and Morocco, the cardinal had been praised by some Vatican watchers for his cross-cultural experience and was viewed as a compelling papal contender after Pope Francis’s death.
He had withdrawn from the conclave, stating he had “absolutely no ambition” to be pope.
The case adds to ongoing discussions about accountability and the handling of abuse allegations within the Catholic Church.
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