The Holy See has appointed Mgr Mario León Dorado OMI as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Rabat following the investigation into allegations made against Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero.

Cardinal López Romero temporarily stepped back from public ministry in July following multiple accusations of “inappropriate behaviour towards adult women”, which he denies. The cardinal said he was co-operating with the Church’s preliminary investigation.

In his role, Mgr Dorado, who is the Apostolic Prefect of Western Sahara, will administer the diocese while the investigation takes place. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) announced the appointment of Mgr Dorado in an August 1 statement.

The announcement read: “Entrusted with this responsibility by the Holy Father, he will serve the local Church in Rabat in communion with and at the discretion of the Holy See. Let us accompany him with our prayers as he undertakes this new mission!”

French news agency AFP reported in an investigation that at least five women ​had accused Cardinal López ‌Romero of sexual assault. The cardinal denied the allegations, stating that he had “committed neither assault nor violence nor sexual harassment”.

In a July 8 statement, Cardinal López Romero said that the accusations had led the Church to open a preliminary investigation, with which he was co-operating. He asked for prayers for those suffering from the situation, the Church and himself.

He said in his letter: “During this period of inquiry, in order not to hinder it, I will take a step back, presiding over no public celebration, and not intervening in any pastoral activity, and you will understand this.

The cardinal said that he was “fully aware of the difficulties” the announcement had caused in the archdiocese, which serves around 21,000 Catholics – just 0.1 per cent of the population the diocese covers across more than 400,000 square kilometres. He noted the “legitimate questions it could raise for everyone” and therefore wanted those in the diocese “to be informed of this immediately”.

Cardinal López ‌Romero, aged 74, was appointed as Archbishop of Rabat in 2018 and made a cardinal the following year. During last year’s conclave, he was considered one of the papabile candidates to be made pope.