Theodore McCarrick, the former Archbishop of Washington who was accused of sexually abusing minors and adults, has died at the age of 94, according to a statement by his successor, Cardinal Robert McElroy. McCarrick passed away on April 3, 2025, at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri.

Cardinal McElroy expressed his thoughts for the victims of McCarrick’s abuse, saying, “At this moment I am especially mindful of those who he harmed during the course of his priestly ministry… Through their enduring pain, may we remain steadfast in our prayers for them and for all victims of sexual abuse.”

McCarrick was ordained a priest in 1958 and went on to become Archbishop of Newark from 1986 to 2000 before being appointed Archbishop of Washington DC. He was made a cardinal in 2001. However, his career was marred by allegations of sexual misconduct, which led to his resignation from the College of Cardinals in 2018 and his dismissal from the priesthood by the Vatican in 2019.

The Vatican report into the McCarrick case found that the late Pope John Paul II had appointed McCarrick Archbishop of Washington, DC, and a cardinal despite being made aware of the allegations of misconduct with adults. The report also found that by 2000, the Vatican was aware that McCarrick had been accused of sexual misconduct with a priest and was known for sharing his bed with young adult men and trainee priests.

McCarrick was later criminally charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, but he was deemed not fit to stand trial due to dementia in 2023.