Cardinal in court over sex abuse
The most senior Vatican official to be charged in connection with the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis has appeared in court in Australia for the first time.
The charges against Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic and Pope Francis’ top financial adviser, has stunned the Holy See and threatens to tarnish the pontiff ’s image as a crusader against abusive clergy.
Pell, 76, has maintained his innocence since he was charged last month with sexually abusing multiple people years ago in his Australian home state of Victoria.
Details of the allegations against him have yet to be made public, though police have described the charges as “historical” sexual assault offences.