A senior Vatican official has visited Broome in the wake of former bishop Christopher Saunders's conviction for sexually assaulting two young men.
In a brief address, Cardinal Mario Grech did not mention Saunders by name, but acknowledged the "sadness" in the local community.
The Vatican has not said whether the former bishop will be defrocked.
A senior Vatican official has spoken of his sadness for the community still coming to terms with the sexual abuses committed by former bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders.
Saunders, who led the Catholic diocese of Broome for decades, was jailed for six years last month for sexually assaulting two young Indigenous men.
Cardinal Mario Grech, who is secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, addressed a special mass in Broome on Wednesday morning to mark the diocese's 60-year anniversary.
In front of a packed cathedral of more than 100 parishioners, Cardinal Grech did not name Saunders.
But the Maltese prelate said he was "deeply saddened" and "stood in solidarity" with community members.
Cardinal Grech said he was grateful to have been invited to the region and spoke of the diocese's vibrancy and "distinctive community of faith".
The ABC was not permitted to take photographs or record the mass, or interview Cardinal Grech.
