29 June, 2017
"The Holy See expresses its respect for the Australian justice system that will have to decide the merits of the questions raised", the statement said.
Police confirmed on Thursday morning that Cardinal Pell had been charged "with historical sexual assault offences" and had been summonsed to appear in a Melbourne court in July.
Cardinal George Pell has rejected accusations against him of "multiple" historical sex offences amid charges laid against him by Victoria Police on Thursday.
Victoria state Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said that Pell faced several charges related to "historic sexual offences". 'I am looking forward finally to having my day in court. Pell was ordered to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 18.
Other than stating there are multiple complainants against Pell, police have given no other details of the allegations.
Cardinal Pell was a Priest in Ballarat before he was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne.
Australian Cardinal George Pell has been summoned to return from the Vatican to Melbourne to face court.
Pell's last public appearance was on Wednesday, when he attended a ceremony celebrating the elevation of five bishops to the rank of cardinal.
A lawyer for two unnamed men who had made abuse claims against Pell said they were "over the moon" about the charges. Five priests who worked in the parish were convicted of crimes, including one who was found guilty of abusing more than 50 children.
Cardinal Pell a former Melbourne and Sydney archbishop and Ballarat priest is due to appear in a Melbourne court on July 26
In October, three Victoria Police detectives flew to Rome to interview Pell.
"We have to wait for justice and not first make a mediatic judgment - a judgment of gossip - because that won't help", he said.
Pell has been accused in the past of sexual assault, but has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
However there is a strong belief that Pell will return to Australia to fight the charges.
He is now the third most powerful Catholic at the Vatican, behind the Pope.
Mr Patton said there had been a lot of speculation about the process that has been involved in the investigation of Cardinal Pell.
He also added that Pell had been treated according to "common and standard practice", and emphasized that Pell had the right to due process. He has previously cited ill health as a reason not to travel to Australia for his most recent appearance at the Royal Commission into institutional sex abuse.
Cardinal George Pell was ordained as a Priest in the early 1970s and he returned to Ballarat to work as priest after studying in Rome and Oxford.
