Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, is stepping down as the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
It follows allegations, which he contests, of inappropriate behaviour towards priests dating from the 1980s.
Pope Benedict has put into effect the resignation, which was tendered some months ago on age grounds.
In a statement this morning, Cardinal O'Brien said he would not be joining the conclave to choose a successor to Pope Benedict.
He said he did not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on him.
This means Britain will have no representative at the conclave.
Cardinal O'Brien, 74, originally from Ballycastle, Co Antrim, stood down from some frontline duties in the Catholic Church in Scotland last year due to his age.
Last week, the Cardinal has said he would be "happy" for priests to be able to marry.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien said many priests struggle to cope with celibacy and should be able to marry and have a family.
Cardinal O'Brien said that marriage was not considered when he was studying for the priesthood but added he would be happy to see it introduced.
He has been an outspoken opponent of Scottish government plans to legalise same-sex marriage and was controversially named "bigot of the year" by a gay rights charity last November.
Pope allows for earlier conclave meeting
Separately, Pope Benedict has changed Roman Catholic Church law regulating the conclave that will elect his successor, meaning it can start earlier.
The change to a constitution by his predecessor John Paul means cardinals no longer have to wait 15 days after the papacy becomes vacant on 28 February before they start the conclave.
Elsewhere, The Vatican said that a report into papal documents leaked by Pope Benedict's butler in the so-called "Vatileaks scandal" last year will remain confidential and will only be shown to the next pontiff.
The Vatican said: "The holy father has decided that the facts of this investigation, the contents of which are known only to himself, will be made available exclusively to the new pontiff,"
Some Italian media had called for the report to be made public ahead of the conclave that will choose the next pope.
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