Pope Francis has approved measures to sack bishops who mishandle child sexual abuse cases, a papal decree says.

Bishops who are "negligent" in dealing with priests committing abuse will be removed under the new legal procedures.

The decree comes in response to long-running demands by abuse victims and their supporters to hold bishops accountable if they fail to protect their flocks from paedophiles.

Existing laws relating to abuse cases would be tightened, the Pope said.

Victims say that some bishops cover up abuse by transferring perpetrators from parish to parish rather than reporting them to police.