Cardinal Tipped to Be Pope Accused of Molesting Several Women

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Catholic Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, a 74-year-old Spanish national and Archbishop of Rabat in Morocco, has stepped down from his position after an investigation revealed he had been accused of sexual assault by at least five women. The cardinal denies any wrongdoing.

Lopez was touted as a favourite to replace Pope Francis after his death in April last year. He was known as a jovial "street priest" working with the poor, and later became a leader of his missionary Salesian order in Paraguay, Bolivia, and in Spain.

But the allegations against him have dealt a significant blow to his chances of becoming the next Pope. So, who is Lopez and what led to these allegations?

Cristobal Lopez Romero is a 74-year-old Spanish national who has served as the Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco since 2015. He was born in Spain and joined the Catholic Church at a young age. Lopez has a long history of working in the Catholic Church, having spent many years as a missionary in South America.

The allegations against Lopez first surfaced in May when a woman made a written complaint against him to the Vatican embassy in Morocco, alleging that he molested her. She accused Lopez of "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 said at least five accounts describing similar incidents have been brought to its attention. Lopez admitted that he had been "accused of inappropriate behaviour towards adult women" but denied any wrongdoing.

The investigation into Lopez's actions is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how this will impact his chances of becoming the next Pope. The Catholic Church has been plagued by allegations of sexual abuse in recent years, with many high-ranking officials facing accusations of misconduct.

In a statement, Lopez said that he had committed "neither assault nor violence nor sexual harassment". He was known as a jovial "street priest" working with the poor, and later became a leader of his missionary Salesian order in Paraguay, Bolivia, and in Spain.

The allegations against Lopez have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for him to be held accountable for his actions. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how this will impact the Catholic Church's efforts to address the issue of sexual abuse.