Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, 74, the Archbishop of Rabat in Morocco and a former contender to replace Pope Francis, announced on Tuesday that he is "stepping back" from office following an AFP investigation revealing at least five women accused him of sexual assault. The Spanish-born cardinal, who denies wrongdoing, said he has "committed neither assault nor violence nor sexual harassment."
Allegations and Investigation
One woman who accused Lopez of molestation submitted a written complaint to the Vatican embassy in Morocco in May, which AFP has seen. She alleged "particularly insistent and prolonged hugs" and "an attempt at physical intimacy that could be likened to an attempt" to kiss her, which she said she "barely managed" to avoid. A church source in the archdiocese confirmed that at least five accounts describing similar incidents have been reported.
Lopez acknowledged in a written reply to AFP that he has been "accused of inappropriate behavior toward adult women. This situation has led the Church to open a preliminary investigation." However, he maintained his innocence.
Culture of Complicity
The archdiocese source condemned "a culture of complicity and silence" among those around the cardinal, accusing them of protecting him. The source told AFP that "close associates" who have known Lopez for years reported similar behavior during his time as a missionary in South America.
Lopez, known as a jovial "street priest" working with the poor, later led the Salesian order in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Spain. After Pope Francis's death in April last year, he was hailed by some Vatican watchers and "not a few of his fellow cardinals," according to the Catholic website Crux, as "a potential Successor of Peter." The National Catholic Review said his "personal biography of bridge-building cultures and continents" could make him "a compelling contender for the church's top job." However, he withdrew from the conclave four days before voting, stating he had "absolutely no ambition" to be pope and would "flee to Sicily" if elected.
Church's Response
Lopez's deputy, Vicar General Marc Helfer, urged allowing the Church's internal investigation to proceed before the cardinal's announcement. "We do not know whether (the reported acts) really amount to sexual assault," Helfer said, adding, "We are not covering up for anyone." However, in an October document sent to Papal Nuncio Alfred Xuereb, Helfer questioned "the relevance" of keeping Lopez in office. That document accompanied a complaint from another alleged victim who said the cardinal sexually assaulted her multiple times, the woman told AFP.
The Catholic Church has long been plagued by child abuse scandals. Pope Francis, who pledged to tackle the "culture of abuse," faced criticism for not doing enough to stop cover-ups. Marie Collins, an Irish victim he appointed to the Vatican commission, resigned in 2017, claiming senior clerics prioritized "other concerns" over child safety.
Legal Perspectives
Nadia Debbache, a Moroccan lawyer specializing in sexual violence, said the alleged acts could constitute "aggravated sexual harassment and aggravated sexual assault... the aggravating factor being the abuse of authority by their alleged perpetrator." While no criminal complaints have been filed in Morocco, courts there impose heavier sentences for such crimes committed by authority figures, and failure to report a crime can also be punished, Debbache noted.
Another anonymous source provided AFP with four letters sent to the nunciature and the Vatican's doctrinal office, referring to allegations of "sexual abuse by clergy, including by Father Cristobal himself." The source said Lopez recently sought appointment of a successor, suggesting he was planning for transition before his mandatory retirement at 75 in 2027. Nuncio Xuereb called that "normal practice" given his age, stressing that "the presumption of innocence must be preserved... until the facts are established by the competent authorities."
