Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's Prime Minister, said on Thursday that Pope Francis must sack an archbishop convicted of concealing child sex abuse.

Archbishop Philip Wilson, 67, in May became the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of not disclosing to police abuse by another priest.

Wilson was sentenced to a year's detention earlier this month. He has stepped aside as archbishop of Adelaide in South Australia state, but has not resigned, insisting he would do so only if he is unsuccessful in an appeal.

Mr Turnbull, who has previously called on Wilson to resign, escalated his criticism of Wilson remaining in office.

"He should have resigned and the time has come for the Pope to sack him," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney.

"I think the time has come now for the ultimate authority in the church to take action and sack him."