Discount (AFP) – At least five women have accused Spanish Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, the archbishop of Rabat, of sexual abuse, according to sources close to the case and testimony from victims obtained by AFP, allegations that the suspended prelate denies.
First modification: 07/07/2026 – 21:32Last modified: 07/08/2026 – 03:26
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The allegations against the 74-year-old monk are the subject of a Vatican investigation and forced the cardinal to step down from his duties on Tuesday.
The Moroccan justice system has not yet received a single complaint, Vicar General Mark Helfer, Lopez Romero’s direct subordinate, told AFP.
López Romero, considered one of the possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis at the 2025 conclave, denies the facts.
After being ordained a priest in 1979, he went to Paraguay in 1984, where he stayed for almost two decades and was superior of the Salesian province of Bolivia from 2011 to 2014, according to the Vatican website.
Lopez was the founder of the Association of Catholic Communicators of Paraguay (ACCP) and one of the main organizers of the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1988. He was an inspector for the Salesians in Paraguay until he was transferred to Morocco in 2002.
“We do not know the truth of the allegations, but we must always trust the investigation to reveal the truth,” Edmundo Valenzuela, archbishop emeritus of Asuncion, told AFP.
Agence France-Presse interviewed a pensioner who actively collaborated with the Church, who did not allow the contents of her testimony to be revealed at this stage, but mentioned repeated sexual abuse.
He also reviewed another woman’s written testimony sent to the apostolic nunciature, the Vatican embassy in the Moroccan capital.
She accuses the cardinal of making “physical gestures” that she “perceived as inappropriate,” including “particularly persistent and prolonged hugs” and “attempting a physical approach that could amount to an attempt” to kiss her, from which she says she fled.
A diocese source also told AFP that he had been told that at least three other women said they were victims of “similar events”, comments expressed particularly in the context of a confession.
– “Move away” –
File photo: Pope Francis (center) talks with Archbishop of Rabat Cristobal Lopez Romero (I) in the Catholic Cathedral of Rabat on March 31, 2019 © FADEL SENNA / AFP/Archives
Speaking to AFP about the allegations, the archbishop said he had “responded to (his) church superiors.”
“I will continue to fully cooperate with them in their ongoing investigation,” he said, saying he committed “no assault, no violence, no sexual harassment.”
“During this period of investigation, so as not to interfere with it, I will distance myself, not preside over any public celebrations and not interfere in any pastoral activities,” he added in another statement addressed to the faithful of the diocese and transmitted to AFP.
The Holy See did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
The cardinals, chosen by the Pope, form a limited circle of the highest dignitaries of the Church charged with assisting him in his administration. Persons under 80 years of age also participate in the conclave to elect their successor.
At the time of the May 2025 conclave, López Romero was one of the most visible and influential cardinals, with several media outlets even presenting him as a “papable,” a term designating cardinals considered to have the best chance of being elected.
The Catholic Church continues to be marred by a series of scandals involving clergy sexual abuse and its cover-up.
During Francis’ pontificate (2013–2025), the zero-tolerance policy was reaffirmed and a number of reforms were introduced to improve the handling of complaints.
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