Cardinal George Pell has returned to Australia to face historic sexual abuse charges in Melbourne at the end of this month.
The cardinal, Australia’s most senior Catholic prelate and Vatican financial tsar, flew from the Vatican, stopping over in Singapore, to Sydney Airport, landing Monday morning at 5.55 am.
The 76-year-old cardinal, chosen by Francis to head up the financial and economic reforms of the Holy See, said that he suffers from a heart condition that makes any long-haul flights problematic. He was granted leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges.
He was charged by Victoria police on 30 June. Police have said the accusations relate to alleged “historic” incidents.
Cardinal Pell, who strongly denies any wrongdoing, is due to face a Melbourne court on 26 July. At a press conference in the Holy See on the day the charges were announced, Pell said that he was “looking forward to my day in court” in order to “clear my name.” He added that “The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”
Cardinal Pell was previously archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney after having been a parish priest in his hometown of Ballarat Victoria.
Last week, it was reported that several Australian Catholics had set-up a fund to pay for the cardinal’s legal fees after the Diocese of Sydney said that it would only pay for his accommodation and living costs.
Loading ...
