Senior Catholic cleric favored to become next pontiff faces allegations of sexually abusing multiple females

A shocking move has been made by Spanish-born Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, 74, who has announced he is "stepping back" from his office as Archbishop of Rabat in Morocco, following an investigation by AFP that uncovered allegations of sexual assault from at least five women.

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Cardinal Lopez Romero denies any wrongdoing, despite a written complaint being made to the Vatican embassy in Morocco in May, detailing "particularly insistent and prolonged hugs" and an attempt at physical intimacy that the complainant "barely managed" to avoid.

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A source within the archdiocese has confirmed that at least five accounts of similar incidents have been brought to their attention, with the cardinal admitting to being accused of "inappropriate behaviour towards adult women", prompting the Church to open a preliminary investigation.

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However, the cardinal maintains his innocence, stating "I have committed neither assault nor violence nor sexual harassment", as he faces allegations that have led to a culture of complicity and silence among those around him being condemned by a church source.

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The cardinal's past has been marked by his work as a "street priest" in South America, where "close associates" reported similar behaviour, and later as a leader of his missionary Salesian order in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Spain.

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Cardinal Lopez Romero was previously considered a potential successor to Pope Francis, with his "personal biography of bridge-building cultures and continents" making him a "compelling contender" for the church's top job, according to the National Catholic Review.

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However, he pulled out of the conclave to replace Francis last year, just four days before the voting, citing "absolutely no ambition" to be pope, and joking that "if I am elected, I will flee to Sicily".

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Vicar General Marc Helfer, the cardinal's deputy, has called for the Church's internal bodies to be allowed to conduct their investigation, stating "we do not know whether the reported acts really amount to sexual assault", and insisting "we are not covering up for anyone".

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An October document sent to Papal Nuncio Alfred Xuereb last month included a complaint from another alleged victim, who claimed the cardinal sexually assaulted her several times, with Helfer questioning the relevance of maintaining Lopez in his office.

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The Catholic Church has faced decades of criticism for its handling of child abuse by paedophile priests, with Pope Francis being accused of not doing enough to stop cover-ups, despite vowing to tackle the "culture of abuse".

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Marie Collins, an Irish victim appointed to the Vatican commission to tackle the problem, resigned in 2017, claiming senior clerics were still prioritising "other concerns" over the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

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Nadia Debbache, a Moroccan lawyer specialising in sexual violence, believes the acts the cardinal is accused of could amount to "aggravated sexual harassment and aggravated sexual assault", with the abuse of authority being an aggravating factor.

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Although no criminal complaints have been made in Morocco, the courts there impose heavier sentences for such crimes when committed by a person in a position of authority, and can also punish failure to report a crime or attempted crime, according to Debbache.

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A source has provided AFP with four letters addressed to the nunciature and the Vatican's doctrinal office, referring to allegations of "sexual abuse by clergy, including by Father Cristobal himself", with the cardinal recently requesting the appointment of an eventual successor.

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Nuncio Xuereb has stated that this would be "normal practice" given the cardinal's age, and that "the presumption of innocence must be preserved... until the facts are established by the competent authorities".