TOP VATICAN CARDINAL FIGHTING ABUSE CHARGES

One of the Vatican’s most senior officials on Thursday denied allegations of sexual offenses and said he would return to his native Australia to “clear my name.”

Police in Australia charged Cardinal George Pell, 76, Pope Francis’ chief financial adviser, with historical sexual offenses earlier Thursday. Pell is the highest-ranking Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic Church’s ongoing sex-abuse scandal.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton of Australia’s Victoria Police told a news conference that Pell is due to appear in magistrate’s court in Melbourne, Australia, on July 18 for a hearing. He said there were “multiple complainants” and did not elaborate.