The bishop of the Belgian city of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, has resigned after admitting sexual abuse of a boy earlier in his career.
Bishop Vangheluwe, 73, says the abuse happened when he was a priest and continued when he started as a bishop.
The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation.
Bishop Vangheluwe added that he was "enormously sorry" and that he had repeatedly asked for forgiveness. He had been bishop of Bruges since 1984.
The Catholic Church is under severe pressure over accusations of sexual abuse of children emerging across the world.
Earlier this month Georg Mueller, a German-born former bishop in Norway, admitted sexually abusing a minor 20 years ago.
