Overview
- Cristóbal López Romero has temporarily withdrawn from public ministry and says he is completely innocent.
- Five adult women have accused the cardinal of sexual assault, unwanted touching and abuse of spiritual authority for incidents reported to span 2009–2024.
- At least one complainant submitted a written account to the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat describing specific inappropriate physical contacts.
- Because López Romero is a cardinal, the Holy See is handling the preliminary canonical investigation and will decide if it opens a formal process or imposes measures.
- The case’s cross‑border scope and the accused’s prominence raise practical challenges for evidence gathering and renewed questions about Church accountability at the Vatican level.