Paris (CNN) The Roman Catholic church has been rocked once again after one of France's leading cardinals was found guilty Thursday of covering up historic sexual abuse allegations.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon and one of France's most senior religious figures, was sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence for failing to report between July 2014 and June 2015 the sexual abuse allegations made against a priest from his diocese, Bernard Preynat, in the 1980s and 1990s. Preynat is due to go on trial later this year.

"The responsibility and guilt of the cardinal have been confirmed by this judgment. It's an extraordinary symbol, a moment of huge emotion," Yves Sauvayre, a lawyer for the victims, told reporters outside the court in Lyon.

Vincent Neymon, deputy Secretary General of the Bishop's conférence of France (CEF), told CNN that "Cardinal Barbarin has announced that he will present his resignation to the Pope" following the ruling. The Pope must nevertheless accept his resignation for it to take effect.

Barbarin received a six-month suspended sentence.

Neymon said Barbarin had not specified whether he would resign as Archbishop or Cardinal, but suspected that it would be the former.

Read More