Vatican treasurer facing sex abuse trial
Cardinal George Pell is the most senior Catholic Church official to be charged with such offences, which relate to his time as a priest and bishop in Australia.
Following a month-long pre-trial hearing, magistrate Belinda Wallington ruled that some of the historical allegations against the 76-year-old should be tested in court.
Cardinal Pell has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He will next appear in court on Wednesday in Melbourne. He is facing at least one charge after being accused of sexually abusing multiple victims decades ago.
The prosecution alleged during the pre-trial hearing that Cardinal Pell’s offences took place at a swimming pool and a cinema in Victoria state, a church and other locations.
His lawyer, Robert Richter, argued there was no evidence to support the charges against his client.
In 2016 an Australian Royal Commission accused Cardinal Pell of mishandling misconduct cases against clergy members while he served as the leader of the Archdioceses of Melbourne and Sydney.
More from World
White House: Israel’s claims about Iran’s nuclear weapons programme are ‘compelling’
WhatsApp founder quits after clash with Facebook over privacy rules
Mongolians drink oxygen cocktails to cope with smog in world’s most polluted capital
Four skiers die in Swiss Alps after spending night outdoors
Donald Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong Un could be on Korean border
Reporters among 25 killed in Kabul suicide bombings
Then, in 2017, the allegations surfaced that he had himself been involved in abuse beginning early in his priesthood and continuing until he became archbishop of Melbourne.
Cardinal Pell returned to Australia last year to face the allegations, having been granted a leave of absence by the Pope from his role as Vatican treasurer.
