Pope Francis has toughened his campaign against the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults involving Catholic prelates and workers, issuing an edict on Saturday that makes it easier for the Vatican to remove "negligent" bishops.

The decree—officially called a motu proprio—is directed at bishops, eparchs, or religious superiors, the Catholic News Agency (CNA) reports.

In a statement, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said under the edict entitled "Like a loving mother," a bishop can be guilty of lacking in diligence even in the absence of "grave moral culpability on his part."

Moreover, in cases pertaining to the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, "it is sufficient for the lack of diligence be grave" for a bishop to be removed from office, Lombardi said.

Previously, a "very grave" lack of diligence is necessary for a bishop's removal.

The papal edict states that diocesan bishops and eparchs, whether permanent or temporary, can be subject to removal on account of negligence—either through "committed or omitted acts"—if such failure resulted in "physical, moral, spiritual, or patrimonial" harm to an individual or a community as a whole.

Investigations into the conduct of bishops will be carried out by four "competent congregations," Lombardi said.

If, after investigations, this team of congregations determine it is necessary to remove the bishop, they will decide whether to remove him immediately, or give him 15 days to resign. If the bishop does not resign in the allotted period, the congregations can decree his removal from office.

"Like a loving mother, the Church loves all her children, but cares for and protects the smallest and most defenceless with a very particular affection: It is a task which Christ Himself entrusted to the entire Christian community as a whole," Pope Francis states in his motu proprio.

For this reason, the Church pays "vigilant attention to the protection of children and vulnerable adults," the Pope says.

While it is the responsibility of the entire Church to protect minors and vulnerable adults, bishops, eparchs, and those with responsibilities in a particular Church, must be extra diligent, Pope Francis writes.