Auxiliary bishop Charles Scicluna has been appointed by the Vatican to take testimony of clergy alleging sexual misconduct in Scotland's archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

Archbishop Leo Cushley, announced the investigation in two letters sent to his clergy on Tuesday.

Archbishop Cushley took over the archdiocese from Cardinal Keith O'Brien who resigned under disgrace in February last year.

He resigned days before Pope Benedict XVI following allegations by three priests and one former priest that he had inappropriate sexual relations with them some 30 years before.

Archbishop Cushley’s letters state that Pope Francis asked the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops to send Maltese Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna to "listen to and report the testimony offered by past and present members of the clergy ... concerning any incidents of sexual misconduct committed against them by other members of the clergy whomsoever."

Mgr Scicluna is expected to visit the archdiocese between next Tuesday and Thursday and "will be available to listen" on those days. Bishop Scicluna asked those who wish to speak with him to "prepare their narrative in writing", Archbishop Cushley said.

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