A senior Catholic cleric, Bishop Ciro Quispe López, has tendered his resignation following a Vatican investigation that exposed allegations of romantic relationships with at least 17 women, including a nun and a lawyer.
The 51-year-old bishop, once celebrated as a devout and influential leader, fell from grace after a chain of revelations laid bare a web of secret affairs.
According to The Times, the scandal began when tensions erupted among his alleged lovers. A nun, reportedly one of his partners, became jealous of another woman — a lawyer — and leaked details of the bishop’s affairs to a third woman, triggering a cascade of disclosures.
The situation worsened when Bishop López mistakenly sent intimate photos and videos intended for his mistresses to his cleaning lady. Disturbed by the explicit content, she reported the matter to Church authorities, prompting a full-scale Vatican inquiry.
Investigators allegedly discovered extensive evidence, including photographs, videos, and voice recordings linking the bishop to multiple women. While López has denied any misconduct, he insists the allegations are part of a “smear campaign orchestrated by dark hands.”
Beyond the moral allegations, the Vatican is also investigating possible financial misconduct connected to the bishop’s activities, including whether church resources were misappropriated. Officials say the inquiry remains ongoing and that further disciplinary measures could follow.
The scandal has ignited widespread debate both within and outside the Church, with renewed calls for the Vatican to revisit its centuries-old policy on priestly celibacy.
Bishop López’s case comes on the heels of another controversy involving a bishop who was suspended after marrying in a U.S.-based church without first being formally released from his vows — an act considered a grave violation of canon law.
While the Vatican has yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the investigation, López’s resignation stands as one of the most sensational clerical scandals to shake the Church in recent years.
