The most senior Roman Catholic cleric to be convicted of covering up child sex abuse was sentenced to 12 months in detention by an Australian court Tuesday.

Seven years after the Vatican ordered all bishops conferences around the world to develop written guidelines to prevent abuse, tend to victims, punish offenders and keep pedophiles out of the priesthood, the headquarters of the Catholic Church has no such policy.

Pope Francis named two apostolic administrators to govern the now “vacant” dioceses.

It is the first time that a Vatican official has been condemned for such a crime.

"There's something going on in the culture. And one of the elements of that cultural shift is that people are prepared to speak up in a way that they would never have done before."

The report is expected to reveal details of widespread abuse and efforts to conceal and protect abusive priests.