The Vatican has announced the appointment of an apostolic administrator to temporarily govern the Archdiocese of Rabat, Morocco, pending the outcome of an inquiry involving Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero. The decision was made public on August 3, 2026, according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office.
The appointment comes after reports of an investigation into Cardinal Lopez Romero, who has served as Archbishop of Rabat since 2017. The Vatican did not provide specific details about the nature of the inquiry, but confirmed that the measure is precautionary and aims to ensure the continued pastoral care of the archdiocese.
The apostolic administrator will exercise the ordinary governance of the archdiocese until the situation is resolved. The Vatican emphasized that the cardinal remains the archbishop, but his administrative duties are temporarily suspended.
Cardinal Lopez Romero, a Spanish-born Salesian, was created a cardinal in 2019 by Pope Francis. He has been known for his work on interreligious dialogue, particularly with the Muslim community in Morocco.
The Archdiocese of Rabat serves a small Catholic community in a predominantly Muslim country. The Vatican's decision is seen as a step to maintain stability and transparency within the local church.
