Head of referee development Hugh Dallas has parted company with the Scottish Football Association.
The former World Cup referee was the subject of an internal disciplinary hearing on Thursday evening.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan investigated reports of an e-mail sent from Dallas's SFA account when the Pope visited Scotland on 16 September.
Pressure on Dallas intensified on Wednesday when a Catholic Church spokesman called the SFA to act.
The church urged Scottish football's governing body to sack Dallas if it was proved he had passed on a "tasteless message" relating to the Pope's visit to Scotland.
Following Regan's investigation, the former referee was said to be taking a few days out to consider his future and the SFA added that it would not comment until that process was completed.
It was sent from the SFA account belonging to Dallas, contained no text but included an image attachment of a school crossing sign with a silhouette of an adult holding a child's hand and the word "caution".
Beneath the road sign were words making reference to the Pope's arrival in Scotland.
Dallas, who officiated at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups finals, had been the SFA's head of referee development since June 2009.
The former World Cup referee was the subject of an internal disciplinary hearing on Thursday evening.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan investigated reports of an e-mail sent from Dallas's SFA account when the Pope visited Scotland on 16 September.
Pressure on Dallas intensified on Wednesday when a Catholic Church spokesman called the SFA to act.
The church urged Scottish football's governing body to sack Dallas if it was proved he had passed on a "tasteless message" relating to the Pope's visit to Scotland.
Following Regan's investigation, the former referee was said to be taking a few days out to consider his future and the SFA added that it would not comment until that process was completed.
It was sent from the SFA account belonging to Dallas, contained no text but included an image attachment of a school crossing sign with a silhouette of an adult holding a child's hand and the word "caution".
Beneath the road sign were words making reference to the Pope's arrival in Scotland.
Dallas, who officiated at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups finals, had been the SFA's head of referee development since June 2009.