Rome ( CNN ) -- A former Vatican ambassador to the Dominican Republic has been found guilty of sexual abuse of minors by a Vatican tribunal and defrocked , the Vatican said in a statement Friday . Jozef Wesolowski was accused of sexual abuse of minors while serving in the Caribbean nation , the statement said . The Polish archbishop is believed to be one of the highest-ranking Vatican officials to be dismissed from the clergy for sexual abuse . Wesolowski has the right to appeal against the tribunal 's finding and sentence within two months . Once the canonical process has been concluded , he will then be tried by Vatican judicial authorities , according to the Vatican statement . A report by the U.N. Committee Against Torture in May cited Wesolowski 's case , noting that Poland had reportedly asked for the archbishop 's extradition . It urged the Holy See to `` proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation of Archbishop Wesolowski '' and anyone else accused of violating the U.N. Convention Against Torture . If necessary , the Holy See `` should ensure such persons are criminally prosecuted or extradited for prosecution by the civil authorities '' of another state , it said . The U.N. panel asked to be informed of the outcome of the investigation into Wesolowski . In a statement issued following the report , the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests , or SNAP , urged Polish bishops and Catholics to contact Pope Francis and `` insist that he send Wesolowski back to face secular justice in Poland . '' Francis last month spoke out against sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and said he would meet with victims . A priest who abuses a child betrays the body of the Lord , the Pope told reporters , as he called for zero tolerance . `` This is very serious , '' he said . `` It is like , by way of comparison , holding a black Mass . You are supposed to lead them to sanctity and instead you lead them to a problem that will last their entire lives . '' CNN 's Hada Messia reported from Rome , and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London .
A Vatican tribunal finds Jozef Wesolowski guilty of sexual abuse of minors . He was accused of abuse while serving as Vatican ambassador to the Dominican Republic . He has been dismissed from the clergy but can appeal the sentence .