Czech cardinal Dominik Duka, who was accused of covering up clergy sex crimes, died aged 82 on Tuesday, the Prague Archbishopric said on Facebook.

Persecuted under the communist regime of the former Czechoslovakia, Duka repeatedly came under fire during his time as Archbishop of Prague from 2010 until 2022, including for allegedly protecting paedophile priests.

His stance earned him a place on a "dirty dozen" list of potential papal candidates in 2013 accused of sweeping sex crimes under the rug, allegations he has denied.

"Today... three hours after midnight, the Lord of Life called Cardinal Dominik Duka, Archbishop Emeritus of Prague, to eternity," the Archbishopric said, adding that he died in a Prague hospital.

The communist government stripped Duka of the permit to serve as a prie

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