Vicar-General Philip Marshall takes over from Philip Wilson as head of Catholic Church in Adelaide

VICAR-General Philip Marshall will take responsibility for the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide from Archbishop Philip Wilson after his conviction for covering up historic child sex abuse.

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VICAR-General Philip Marshall will take responsibility for the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide from Archbishop Philip Wilson after his conviction for covering up historic child sex abuse.

Wilson officially stood down from his duties on Friday after asking the Catholic faithful to “pray for me” in a letter distributed on Wednesday. The church said Fr Marshall will work closely with the clergy and the laity to “keep the life and renewal of the archdiocese moving forward”.

Vicar-General Philip Marshall will take responsibility of the Catholic Church in Adelaide after Philip Wilson stepped down. (AAP/Emma Brasier)

Fr Marshall also pledged that child protection and dealing with issues associated with abuse would be a priority.

“To ensure we continue to be a church where the safety of children is paramount and where survivors of abuse are listened to and supported,” he said in a statement.

The church said Fr Marshall would assume principal responsibility for liturgical duties and direction of the archdiocese while continuing to look after clergy matters and co-ordinating its renewal program.

He will be supported by newly-appointed adjunct Vicar General Anthoni Adimai. Chancellor Pauline Connelly was also appointed chair of the Archdiocesan Council for Child Protection and will act as the archbishop’s delegate in dealing with matters related to professional standards, the police check unit and the child protection unit.

Archbishop Philip Wilson leaves the Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday after he was found guilty of concealing historic child sex abuse. Picture: AAP/Peter Lorimer

On Tuesday, Wilson was found guilty at Newcastle Local Court of failing to report to police the repeated abuse of two altar boys by paedophile priest James Fletcher in the NSW Hunter Region.

Wilson is the most senior Catholic official in the world to be charged with concealing child sexual abuse and faces a maximum two years’ jail.

He said it was appropriate for him to stand aside following the court’s decision and that if it became necessary at any point for him to resign, he would do so.

In his letter, Wilson said he knew the archdiocese was a united community of believers.

“We have achieved great things in all facets of the life of the archdiocese, including in our parishes, schools, social services, health and in aged care,” he wrote.

The 67-year-old said he wanted to assure the Catholic faithful of his “continued prayers and best wishes”.

“Please continue to pray for me.”

Wilson and his legal team are studying the magistrate’s decision but it remains unclear if they will appeal.