Spanish Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero Suspended Amid Allegations
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, the archbishop of Rabat in Morocco, has been suspended following accusations of sexual assault from several women, as reported by the Vatican on Wednesday.
López Romero has held the position of archbishop in Rabat since 2018, when he was appointed by the late Pope Francis.
Earlier this week, a report stated that a group of at least five women accused the 74-year-old Spanish prelate, originally from Vélez Rubio in Spain’s Almeria region, of sexual assault.
One woman allegedly accused the archbishop in a letter to the Vatican embassy in Morocco, describing an incident involving “an especially persistent and prolonged embrace” and an attempt to kiss her, which she said she narrowly avoided. In response, López Romero denied the allegations and noted that the Catholic Church has initiated a preliminary investigation.
According to Vatican News, the cardinal has temporarily stepped down from his role while the investigation is underway.
In a statement to the media, López Romero acknowledged that the investigation is now under the control of the Roman Catholic Church and expressed his intent to cooperate fully. He mentioned that he would stop presiding over public events and taking part in pastoral activities.
He briefly commented to a Spanish outlet, asserting, “I have not committed any attack, violence, or harassment against anyone.” However, in a subsequent exchange, he did not elaborate on the specific accusations.
López Romero stated that the complaint was filed “two months ago” in Morocco, not in Paraguay or Bolivia, where he previously worked as a missionary. Officials from the Archdiocese of Rabat reportedly argued that the allegations stem from “misunderstood circumstances” rather than actions indicative of aggression.
The archbishop is a member of the Salesian Order of Don Bosco. A source within the Salesian community in Rome claimed that no complaints against him have been recorded throughout his career. Similar sentiments were echoed by the Spanish branch of the Salesians, who expressed surprise at the news.
A spokesperson mentioned, “There is no record of any complaints being made in Spain or in any of his past posts,” noting the unusual nature of such charges against a cardinal.
Salesians in Bolivia also categorically denied any allegations against López Romero, and the Archdiocese of Asunción in Paraguay expressed hope for a “full clarification of the facts.”
Additionally, there were reports suggesting that López Romero was considered a strong candidate to succeed Pope Francis after his expected death in 2025, prior to Pope Leo XIV’s election as the new head of the Catholic Church. He has been viewed as a relatively progressive figure within the church hierarchy.
