A prominent Polish priest who was serving as spokesman for next year's World Youth Day in Krakow is to be dismissed from his religious order after he fathered a child.

Father Tomasz Kijowski, of the Salesian order, conceived the child with a 22-year-old woman he met at a spiritual group for young people during planning for next July's event, which will be attended by Pope Francis.

He will not be laicised unless the Vatican specifically rules he must be but he can no longer wear his clerical collar or priestly vestments, nor carry out any priestly duties, according to Inside Poland.

Father Andrzej Gołębiowski, spokesman for the Salesians, said Father Kijowski had owned up to the affair. 

He said: "It is true that Father Tomasz Kijowski left the religious community in June, although he is still formally a member. The process of expelling him is currently underway. The reason for this situation is that he has fathered a child".

The revelation comes shortly after another Polish priest, Father Krzysztof Charamsa, a former employee of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, admitted he was gay and in a relationship, on the eve of the Synod on the Family currently meeting in Rome.  

Others who have left the Polish Church recently include Jacek Krzysztofowicz, of the Dominican Order, who in his valedictory sermon spoke about finding "true love".