Vatican to await Cardinal child abuse appeal before taking any action

Pell abused two choir boys in Melbourne's cathedral in 1996, a jury found. He had pleaded not guilty.

As Vatican treasurer, the 77-year-old Australian was widely seen as the Catholic Church's third most powerful official.

Pell faces a potential maximum 50-year prison term after a sentencing hearing that begins on Wednesday. He lodged an appeal last week against the convictions.

The outcome of the trial was described as “painful news that has shocked many” by Alessandro Gisotti, the Vatican press spokesman. But he said the prelate "has reiterated his innocence and has the right to defend himself" until the last level of justice.

The convictions were confirmed days after Pope Francis concluded his extraordinary summit of Catholic leaders summoned to Rome for a tutorial on preventing clergy sexual abuse and protecting children from predator priests.

Acting Holy See spokesman Mr Gisotti said Pope Francis has confirmed "precautionary measures" already taken against Pell.

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These include a ban on his saying Mass in public and "as is the rule, contact in any way or form with minors".

The court verdict represented "painful news that, we are well aware, has shocked very many people, not only in Australia", Mr Gisotti said.

"As we have affirmed on other occasions, we restate the utmost respect for Australian judiciary authorities," he said.

"In the name of this respect, we now await the outcome of the appeals trial, recalling that Cardinal Pell has reiterated his innocence and has the right to defend himself until the final level" of Australia's justice system, the spokesman said.

The jury convicted Pell, now 77 but 55 at the time, of abusing two 13-year-old boys whom he had caught drinking sacramental wine in a rear room of a Melbourne cathedral in late 1996, as hundreds of worshippers were streaming out of Sunday services.

The jury also found Pell guilty of indecently assaulting one of the boys in a corridor more than a month later.

Pell had maintained his innocence throughout, describing the accusations as "vile and disgusting conduct" that went against everything he believed in.

His lawyer had told the jury that only a "mad man" would take the risk of abusing boys in such a public place.

Both he and Chief Judge Peter Kidd urged the jury of eight men and four women not to punish Pell for all the failings of the Catholic Church.

"You must not scapegoat Cardinal Pell," Mr Kidd told the jury.

One victim died of a heroin overdose in 2014 without ever complaining of the abuse, and even denying to his suspicious mother that he had been molested while he was part of the choir.

Neither boy can be identified.

Along with Ireland and the US, Australia has been devastated by the impact of the clerical abuse scandal, with a Royal Commission inquiry finding that 4,444 people reported they had been abused at more than 1,000 Catholic institutions across Australia between 1980 and 2015.

Last year an independent investigation for the Catholic Church revealed a horrendous catalogue of sexual and physical abuse against children in case of various religious institutions in Scotland.

Dr Ben Torsney, of the University of Glasgow, found almost 400 cases or reports of abuse in Scotland between 1943 and 2005 during a probe launched at the behest of the Scottish Bishops.

Recorded allegations reached a peak in 1953 with 124 reports, and then began to fall with no more than five a year between 1990 and 2005, according to the study. Many victims are therefore now pensioners.

Pell’s downfall comes just days after another high-profile figure was defrocked by the Pope after a Vatican hearing found him guilty of sexually abusing minors.

Theodore McCarrick (above), a former cardinal and archbishop of Washington, became the most senior Catholic figure to be dismissed from the priesthood in modern times after years of rumours about his predatory behaviour with trainee priests. Francis was accused of failing to investigate or take action until a man went public last summer.

In France, a verdict is expected next week in the trial of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, who is accused with five others of helping to cover up alleged sexual abuse.

Last month, the Vatican announced that Gustavo Zanchetta, a former Argentinian bishop who was appointed to a senior position at the Holy See in 2017, was under preliminary investigation over alleged sexual abuse claims.

The allegations against Pell rocked the Catholic Chruch only for the case to disappear from public view for nine months.

The trial and conviction of Pell can now be reported after an Australian judge lifted a legal order that had prohibited coverage.

The sweeping ban, known as a suppression order, was handed down last May.

It was deemed necessary to give Pell fair hearings but it prompted a big debate.

Pell walked from the Melbourne courtroom to a waiting car surrounded by a posse of police and press. He was jeered by survivors of sexual abuse who had gathered outside.

“You’re going to burn in hell. Burn in hell, Pell,” one man shouted.

Pell did not comment but a statement released by his solicitor Paul Galbally said the cardinal “has always maintained his innocence and continues to do so.”