Spanish Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero has suspended himself from public duties after being accused of inappropriate behavior toward adult women. The Vatican confirmed on its news site that a preliminary investigation has been opened into the allegations.
Lopez Romero, who also serves as the Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco, stated that he has been accused of "inappropriate behaviour toward adult women." The accusations were first reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which stated that at least five women have accused the 74-year-old prelate of sexual assault.
Despite the allegations, Lopez Romero told AFP, "I have committed neither assault nor violence nor sexual harassment." He pledged full cooperation with the Vatican investigation and said he would refrain from presiding over public celebrations and pastoral activities to avoid interfering with the process.
Cardinal since 2019 and Archbishop of Rabat since 2018, Lopez Romero has been considered a progressive figure within the Catholic hierarchy and was viewed as a potential candidate in the previous papal conclave.