Following the verdict, 67-year-old Philip Wilson, the Archbishop, becomes the most senior Catholic in the world to be pronounced guilty of committing the offence.

Reports have said that Wilson was guilty of covering up paedophilic acts by a priest, who regularly sodomised altar boys in New South Wales.

However, the Archbishop has denied knowledge of these incidents and has said he will explore legal options.

In a statement published through the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, he said, "I am obviously disappointed at the decision published today. I will now have to consider the reasons and consult closely with my lawyers to determine the next steps."

The accused priest has been identified as James Fletcher, who was convicted of nine child sexual abuse charges in 2004, and died in prison two years later.

The abuses took place in the 70s.

Delighted with the verdict, Peter Creigh, a former altar boy and one among the nine victims, told the media, "The decision will hopefully unravel the hypocrisy, the deceit, and the abuse of power and trust that the church has displayed."

The quantum of Wilson's punishment will be announced in June, where he is expected to face a maximum of two years in prison.

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