The Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, has resigned over his handling of a sexual abuse scandal.

An investigation found that Justin Welby failed to inform police of the serial physical and sexual abuse.

Accordingly A report published last weekJohn Smyth abused more than 100 boys and young men starting in the 1970s.

Archbishop Justin Welby did not report Smyth to the authorities when he learned of the abuse allegations after he became head of the Church of England in 2013.

In a statement welby said “must take personal and institutional responsibility” for his failure to report the abuse.

“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England takes the need for change and our deep commitment to creating a safer church,” Welby said. he said. “As I resign, it is with a heavy heart that I join all victims and survivors of abuse.”

As Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby was the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, a global church community with roots in the Church of England. The Episcopal Church is the US branch of the congregation.

Welby was under increasing pressure to resign over his handling of the accusations against Smythe.

On Monday, the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, called on Welby to resign and told the BBC that taking that step “would be a very clear indication that a line has been drawn”.

“I think people are rightly asking the question: ‘Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe?'” Hartley said. “And I think the answer right now is ‘No.'”

Andrew Morse, a survivor of Smyth’s abuse, says Welby’s resignation is a chance for the church to repair some of the damage done to victims.