The disgraced Cardinal who was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic has announced he will leave Scotland for several months "for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance".
Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigned his position after admitting his sexual conduct had, at times, "fallen below expected standards".
ITV News Scotland correspondent Debi Edward reports:
A statement said that Pope Francis had agreed with the decision but did not say whether it was the pope's idea that O'Brien should leave for what the Vatican said would be "several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance".
The statement did not say where the Cardinal was going.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who admitted that his sexual conduct had "fallen beneath the standards" expected of him when he resigned, "will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance."
Read: Cardinal admits sex misconduct.
Cardinal O'Brien resigned as the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland at the end of February.
Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, who resigned as head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland after acknowledging sexual misconduct, will leave Scotland for months of "prayer and penance", the Vatican said.
A statement said O'Brien, who was Britain's most senior Catholic cleric until his resignation in February, would be leaving his country "for the same reasons" that he decided not to participate in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.
The Archbishop in temporary charge of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has spoken about accusations of hypocrisy after the revelations about Cardinal Keith O'Brien.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien will face a Vatican inquiry, though it is unlikely to be before a new Pope is chosen.
Read: Cardinal admits sex misconduct.
From Glasgow ITV News Scotland Correspondent Debi Edward reports:
Church leaders said it was a "sad moment" following an admission from Britain's most senior Catholic cleric that his sexual conduct "had fallen beneath the standards" expected of him.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien will face a Vatican inquiry, though it is unlikely to be before a new Pope is chosen.
Three priests and a former priest accused the cleric of inappropriate behaviour dating back to the 1980s.
– Cardinal Keith O'BrienI wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.
The cardinal, who stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in the wake of the scandal, has asked for forgiveness.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien's temporary successor Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said it was a "sad moment" for the church.
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia has told a congregation not to be 'defeatists' after Cardinal Keith O'Brien admitted his "sexual conduct fell below standards expected" during his time as a religious leader.
Read: Cardinal admits sex misconduct.
Archbishop Tartaglia said, "As for the Church’s mission in our country, yes our credibility and moral authority have been undermined. It will take time, perhaps a long time to recover these intangible but important realities.
"But we cannot be defeatist. The answer to this sad episode is not to throw in the towel.
"We need, rather, to renew our faithfulness to Jesus Christ and to go about our business humbly."
Cardinal Keith O'Brien's temporary successor has told a congregation there is little doubt the credibility and moral authority of the Catholic Church in Scotland has been "dealt a serious blow".
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, who is the Archbishop of Glasgow and apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of St Andrew's and Edinburgh, broke the Church's silence over Cardinal O'Brien's behaviour at a pre-scheduled Lent Mass in Glasgow tonight, saying;
This is a sad moment for the Church in our country.
The events around Cardinal O'Brien, his resignation, his statement of yesterday, have left us all very sad for everyone involved and for the Church.
Many reproaches have been aimed at the Church and at individuals over this matter.
The most stinging charge which has been levelled against us in this matter is hypocrisy, and for obvious reasons.
I think there is little doubt that the credibility and moral authority of the Catholic Church in Scotland has been dealt a serious blow, and we will need to come to terms with that.
Cardinal O'Brien is to face a Vatican inquiry after admitting yesterday that his sexual conduct "had fallen beneath the standards" expected of him during his almost 50-year career.
The former priest who reported Cardinal Keith O'Brien to the Vatican over the allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour has attacked the Catholic church's response to the complaints.
Speaking prior to tonight's statement by O'Brien, the man, who remains anonymous, told The Observer he had been "disappointed" by the "lack of credibility" shown by the church.
In the newspaper's report, published today, he said:
There have been two sensations for me this week. One is feeling the hot breath of the media on the back of my neck and the other is sensing the cold disapproval of the church hierarchy for daring to break ranks. I feel like if they could crush me, they would.
The vacuum the church has created has allowed whimsy and speculation to distort the truth, and the only support I have been offered is a cursory email with a couple of telephone numbers of counsellors hundreds of miles away from me.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigned last Monday following allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the 1980s. He initially contested the claims with a spokesman confirming he was "taking legal advice".
He had been due to travel to the Vatican to help choose the next Pope, as the only British Roman Catholic cleric able to vote.
But he removed himself from the papal conclave because he felt the allegations against him would be "too much of a distraction".
He then issued a statement saying: "Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended."
O'Brien, who was Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, was created and proclaimed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in October 2003. He had been due to retire when he turned 75 later this month.