Archbishop Philip Wilson is to appeal against his conviction for concealing child abuse.
The Adelaide Archbishop was found guilty of covering up abuse by a paedophile priest in New South Wales in the 1970s.
He is the most senior Catholic in the world to be convicted of the crime.
On 3 July, he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of six months.
He announced on Wednesday (4 July) he would lodge an appeal. He added that if the appeal was unsuccessful he would resign as Archbishop of Adelaide.
"I am conscious of calls for me to resign and have taken them very seriously,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“However, at this time, I am entitled to exercise my legal rights and to follow the due process of law. Since that process is not yet complete, I do not intend to resign at this time.
“However, if I am unsuccessful in my appeal, I will immediately offer my resignation to the Holy See.”
Australian Prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull told reporters he is “surprised” the Archbishop has not resigned.
“Clearly, given the outcome of the case, the lawsuit and prosecution, he should resign”, Mr Turnbull said.
During his trial, Archbishop Wilson denied that he couldn’t remember being told of the abuse of two altar boys by priest James Fletcher in the 1970s.
The court heard he is potentially suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
In giving his sentence, court Magistrate Robert Stone said Archbishop Wilson was primarily motivated by a desire to protect the Catholic Church and that he had showed no remorse.
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