The funeral of controversial top Vatican cardinal George Pell in Sydney saw some protesters confront&nbsp;mourners with chants of "shame" on Thursday. Pell had passed away in Rome last month at the age of 81 and was buried in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral amid angry protests and a heavy police presence.

Pell was the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sex abuse. He was later acquitted when the ruling was overturned in 2020. He was Australia's highest ranking Catholic cleric, and the most senior Church figure ever jailed for such offences.

Pell's supporters have dubbed him a "saint for our times". But there are those who accuse him of protecting paedophile priests.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cardinal-pellss-anonymous-memo-called-pope-franciss-papacy-a-catastrophe-552153">Cardinal Pell's 'anonymous' memo called Pope Francis's papacy a 'catastrophe'</a>

Riot police lined barricades as he was being laid to rest to keep protesters away from the thousands of mourners queuing to get into the funeral.

Police outside St Mary's Cathedral had to intervene to separate mourners from the angry protesters, one of whom was arrested.

Protesters cried "shame" and waved banners declaring "Pell Burn in Hell". Meanwhile, a small group of Pell supporters draped rosary beads over the ribbons.&nbsp;

Community Action for Rainbow Rights also organised a protest to coincide with the start of the&nbsp;funeral. The group condemned his ultraconservative views on abortion and same-sex marriage.

Pell was in jail for 13 months and his case rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. He was a former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney and served as economy minister at the Vatican from 2014 until 2017 when he took a leave of absence to return to Australia to face the abuse charges.

Pell had infamously once said that homosexuality was a "much greater health hazard than smoking". He even refused to give communion to openly gay worshippers while he was archbishop of Sydney.&nbsp;

He also acknowledged the Church had "been slow to address the anguish" of sexual abuse victims and "dealt with it very imperfectly".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The funeral of controversial top Vatican cardinal George Pell in Sydney saw some protesters confront mourners with chants of "shame" on Thursday. Pell had passed away in Rome last month at the age of 81 and was buried in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral amid angry protests and a heavy police presence.

The funeral of controversial top Vatican cardinal George Pell in Sydney saw some protesters confront mourners with chants of "shame" on Thursday. Pell had passed away in Rome last month at the age of 81 and was buried in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral amid angry protests and a heavy police presence. Pell was the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sex abuse. He was later acquitted when the ruling was overturned in 2020. He was Australia's highest ranking Catholic cleric, and the most senior Church figure ever jailed for such offences. Pell's supporters have dubbed him a "saint for our times". But there are those who accuse him of protecting paedophile priests. Also Read | Cardinal Pell's 'anonymous' memo called Pope Francis's papacy a 'catastrophe' Riot police lined barricades as he was being laid to rest to keep protesters away from the thousands of mourners queuing to get into the funeral. Police outside St Mary's Cathedral had to intervene to separate mourners from the angry protesters, one of whom was arrested. Protesters cried "shame" and waved banners declaring "Pell Burn in Hell". Meanwhile, a small group of Pell supporters draped rosary beads over the ribbons. Community Action for Rainbow Rights also organised a protest to coincide with the start of the funeral. The group condemned his ultraconservative views on abortion and same-sex marriage. Pell was in jail for 13 months and his case rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. He was a former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney and served as economy minister at the Vatican from 2014 until 2017 when he took a leave of absence to return to Australia to face the abuse charges. Pell had infamously once said that homosexuality was a "much greater health hazard than smoking". He even refused to give communion to openly gay worshippers while he was archbishop of Sydney. He also acknowledged the Church had "been slow to address the anguish" of sexual abuse victims and "dealt with it very imperfectly". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Protesters chant ‘shame’, wave banners at Cardinal Pell’s funeral in Sydney

Cardinal George Pell, former top Vatican official and the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sex abuse, has died at age 81, according to his private secretary. He was later acquitted of sexual abuse allegations when the ruling was overturned in 2020.&nbsp;Pell was Australia's highest ranking Catholic cleric, and the most senior Church figure ever jailed for such offences.

Fr. Joseph Hamilton told Reuters that Pell died in a Rome hospital on Tuesday night. Church officials said Pell died from heart complications following a hip surgery.

Pell was in jail for 13 months and his case rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. He was a former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney and served as economy minister at the Vatican from 2014 until 2017 when he took a leave of absence to return to Australia to face the abuse charges.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-pope-benedicts-funeral-begins-pope-francis-leads-proceedings-549648">Former Pope Benedict XVI laid to rest in solemn burial at Vatican</a>

A jury in 2018 found he had abused two choir boys while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s, a verdict which was quashed in 2020 by an Australian appeals court.&nbsp;

However, another civil lawsuit initiated by the father of a choirboy that prosecutors alleged Cardinal Pell abused is still ongoing.

Pell was living in Rome since his acquittal and met with Pope Francis on several occasions. Pell often attended the pontiff's Masses and Francis even praised him publicly after his return. Francis's morning Mass on the day of Pell's acquittal was for all those who suffer from unjust sentences, which he compared to the persecution of Jesus.

He was the star figure for conservatives preparing for the eventual election of Francis's successor. Pell was a close friend of former Pope Benedict, who died last month. But he disagreed with Benedict's decision to continuing wearing white, saying it had confused the faithful.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Cardinal George Pell, former top Vatican official and the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sex abuse, has died at age 81, according to his private secretary.

Cardinal George Pell, former top Vatican official and the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sex abuse, has died at age 81, according to his private secretary. He was later acquitted of sexual abuse allegations when the ruling was overturned in 2020. Pell was Australia's highest ranking Catholic cleric, and the most senior Church figure ever jailed for such offences. Fr. Joseph Hamilton told Reuters that Pell died in a Rome hospital on Tuesday night. Church officials said Pell died from heart complications following a hip surgery. Pell was in jail for 13 months and his case rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. He was a former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney and served as economy minister at the Vatican from 2014 until 2017 when he took a leave of absence to return to Australia to face the abuse charges. Also Read | Former Pope Benedict XVI laid to rest in solemn burial at Vatican A jury in 2018 found he had abused two choir boys while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s, a verdict which was quashed in 2020 by an Australian appeals court. However, another civil lawsuit initiated by the father of a choirboy that prosecutors alleged Cardinal Pell abused is still ongoing. Pell was living in Rome since his acquittal and met with Pope Francis on several occasions. Pell often attended the pontiff's Masses and Francis even praised him publicly after his return. Francis's morning Mass on the day of Pell's acquittal was for all those who suffer from unjust sentences, which he compared to the persecution of Jesus. He was the star figure for conservatives preparing for the eventual election of Francis's successor. Pell was a close friend of former Pope Benedict, who died last month. But he disagreed with Benedict's decision to continuing wearing white, saying it had confused the faithful. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cardinal Pell, Australia's highest ranking Catholic cleric, dies aged 81 in Rome

Cardinal George Pell was released from prison on Tuesday, hours after Australia's High Court quashed his conviction for child sex abuse, bringing to an abrupt end the most high-profile paedophilia case faced by the Catholic Church.

The 78-year-old left Barwon Prison near Melbourne after the court overturned five counts of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-court-delays-final-verdict-on-cardinal-pell-appeal-285810">Australian court delays final verdict on Cardinal Pell appeal</a>

Pell, who had steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout a lengthy court process, exited the jail where he has been held for the last year and issued a statement saying that a "serious injustice" had been remedied by the decision.

A jury had convicted Pell of the offences in December 2018 and that decision was upheld by a three-judge panel in Victoria state's Court of Appeal last August, in a split 2-1 verdict.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-vatican-cleric-cardinal-pell-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-199719">Top Vatican cleric Cardinal Pell convicted of child sex crimes</a>

But Australia's High Court found there was "a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted because the evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof".

The seven justices unanimously found a lower court had "failed to engage with the question of whether there remained a reasonable possibility that the offending had not taken place".

However Pell's legal woes may not be at an end, as he faces several possible civil cases including from the father of one of the alleged victims -- now deceased -- who is planning to launch a claim for damages.

The prosecution's case had relied heavily on the testimony of Pell's surviving accuser, who told a closed-door hearing that Pell had sexually assaulted the two boys in a Melbourne cathedral while he was archbishop of the city.

The second choirboy -- who is not known to have ever spoken of the abuse -- died of a drug overdose in 2014. Neither man can be identified for legal reasons.

Lisa Flynn, the lawyer for the deceased man's father, said her client was "disgusted" and "in utter disbelief" at the outcome.

"He is struggling to comprehend the decision by the High Court of Australia. He says he no longer has faith in our country's criminal justice system," she said.

"He is furious the man he believes is responsible for sexually abusing his son was convicted by a unanimous jury only to have that decision overturned today."

Victims' support group the Blue Knot Foundation said the decision would be&nbsp;"crushing" for survivors of abuse.

"The child sexual abuse pandemic within the Catholic Church has threatened the safety of millions of children, the adults they become and the very moral fibre of what it means to be human," said Blue Knot president Cathy Kezelman.

Pell now has his freedom, but many abuse victims have never been free -- trapped in the horror of the crimes which decimated their lives."

In his statement, Pell thanked his lawyers, supporters and family and said he held "no ill will" toward his accuser.

"I do not want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel; there is certainly hurt and bitterness enough," he said.

"However my trial was not a referendum on the Catholic Church; nor a referendum on how Church authorities in Australia dealt with the crime of paedophilia in the Church. The point was whether I had committed these awful crimes, and I did not."

Cardinal George Pell was released from prison on Tuesday, hours after Australia's High Court quashed his conviction for child sex abuse, bringing to an abrupt end the most high-profile paedophilia case faced by the Catholic Church.

Cardinal George Pell was released from prison on Tuesday, hours after Australia's High Court quashed his conviction for child sex abuse, bringing to an abrupt end the most high-profile paedophilia case faced by the Catholic Church. The 78-year-old left Barwon Prison near Melbourne after the court overturned five counts of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s. Also read: Australian court delays final verdict on Cardinal Pell appeal Pell, who had steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout a lengthy court process, exited the jail where he has been held for the last year and issued a statement saying that a "serious injustice" had been remedied by the decision. A jury had convicted Pell of the offences in December 2018 and that decision was upheld by a three-judge panel in Victoria state's Court of Appeal last August, in a split 2-1 verdict. Also read: Top Vatican cleric Cardinal Pell convicted of child sex crimes But Australia's High Court found there was "a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted because the evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof". The seven justices unanimously found a lower court had "failed to engage with the question of whether there remained a reasonable possibility that the offending had not taken place". However Pell's legal woes may not be at an end, as he faces several possible civil cases including from the father of one of the alleged victims -- now deceased -- who is planning to launch a claim for damages. The prosecution's case had relied heavily on the testimony of Pell's surviving accuser, who told a closed-door hearing that Pell had sexually assaulted the two boys in a Melbourne cathedral while he was archbishop of the city. The second choirboy -- who is not known to have ever spoken of the abuse -- died of a drug overdose in 2014. Neither man can be identified for legal reasons. Lisa Flynn, the lawyer for the deceased man's father, said her client was "disgusted" and "in utter disbelief" at the outcome. "He is struggling to comprehend the decision by the High Court of Australia. He says he no longer has faith in our country's criminal justice system," she said. "He is furious the man he believes is responsible for sexually abusing his son was convicted by a unanimous jury only to have that decision overturned today." Victims' support group the Blue Knot Foundation said the decision would be "crushing" for survivors of abuse. "The child sexual abuse pandemic within the Catholic Church has threatened the safety of millions of children, the adults they become and the very moral fibre of what it means to be human," said Blue Knot president Cathy Kezelman. Pell now has his freedom, but many abuse victims have never been free -- trapped in the horror of the crimes which decimated their lives." In his statement, Pell thanked his lawyers, supporters and family and said he held "no ill will" toward his accuser. "I do not want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel; there is certainly hurt and bitterness enough," he said. "However my trial was not a referendum on the Catholic Church; nor a referendum on how Church authorities in Australia dealt with the crime of paedophilia in the Church. The point was whether I had committed these awful crimes, and I did not."

Cardinal Pell freed after winning appeal over child sex abuse

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-vatican-cleric-cardinal-pell-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-199719">sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys</a> after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal.

Pell, 78, the most senior Catholic official worldwide to be jailed for child sex offences, is currently serving a six-year sentence handed down in March. He is not eligible for parole until 2022, when he will be 81.

The High Court hearing, to be presided over by a full bench of five or seven judges, will be held in March 2020 at the earliest, a court spokesman said. Pell will remain in prison until the appeal is heard.

Lawyers for Pell declined to comment on Wednesday's decision, which is the cardinal's final avenue to clear his name after an earlier appeal upheld his conviction by a lower court.

Prosecutors also declined to comment.

The lawyer for Pell's accuser, whose identity has been protected, said her client respected the appeals process despite the ups and downs he had been through.

"So we will be respectfully waiting for the outcome, but we do understand the anguish a lot of people in the community are feeling," lawyer Vivian Waller told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The cardinal was found guilty in the Victorian County Court in December of abusing two 13-year-old boys at St Patrick's Cathedral in the late 1990s when he was archbishop of Melbourne. A first appeal was heard by the Victoria Court of Appeal, where judges upheld his conviction in a 2-1 majority in August.

The Australian Catholic church lamented the case dragging on due to the High Court ruling.

"This will prolong what has been a lengthy and difficult process, but we can only hope that the appeal will be heard as soon as reasonably possible and that the High Court's judgement will bring clarity and a resolution for all," Archbishop Mark Coleridge, head of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said in a statement.

The High Court on Wednesday ordered Pell's lawyers to file their arguments for appeal by January&nbsp;8, with the crown prosecutors' response due on February&nbsp;5.

Pell's lawyers took the case to the High Court on the basis the Court of Appeal was wrong to have found that the jury's verdict was not unreasonable. Lawyers also argued the majority judges had erred in shifting the burden of proof to the defense to show that it would have been impossible for Pell to have committed the offenses.

Prosecutors said in their filing to the High Court last month there were no grounds for the appeal. They argued that the majority of the Court of Appeal made no error in their approach to evaluating the facts of the case and that the proposed appeal raised "no question of law of public importance".

High Court cases are decided by a majority.

Legal experts said the move by two judges of the High Court to refer Pell's bid to appeal to the full bench was unusual. Effectively the bid to appeal and the actual appeal will be heard together.

The outcome is very hard to predict, said Ben Mathews, a law professor at Queensland University of Technology, who had expected the court to refuse to hear the appeal.

"It's a really tricky one. The fundamental question is really whether the court decides it was open to the jury to reach the guilty verdict," Mathews said.

Pell was relieved of his position as Vatican treasurer after he was convicted, but remains a cardinal. The Pope has declined to comment on the case until the appeals process is exhausted.

For Pell to be dismissed from the priesthood, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would have to find him guilty following a separate canonical trial or a shorter process.

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal.

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal. Pell, 78, the most senior Catholic official worldwide to be jailed for child sex offences, is currently serving a six-year sentence handed down in March. He is not eligible for parole until 2022, when he will be 81. The High Court hearing, to be presided over by a full bench of five or seven judges, will be held in March 2020 at the earliest, a court spokesman said. Pell will remain in prison until the appeal is heard. Lawyers for Pell declined to comment on Wednesday's decision, which is the cardinal's final avenue to clear his name after an earlier appeal upheld his conviction by a lower court. Prosecutors also declined to comment. The lawyer for Pell's accuser, whose identity has been protected, said her client respected the appeals process despite the ups and downs he had been through. "So we will be respectfully waiting for the outcome, but we do understand the anguish a lot of people in the community are feeling," lawyer Vivian Waller told Australian Broadcasting Corp. The cardinal was found guilty in the Victorian County Court in December of abusing two 13-year-old boys at St Patrick's Cathedral in the late 1990s when he was archbishop of Melbourne. A first appeal was heard by the Victoria Court of Appeal, where judges upheld his conviction in a 2-1 majority in August. The Australian Catholic church lamented the case dragging on due to the High Court ruling. "This will prolong what has been a lengthy and difficult process, but we can only hope that the appeal will be heard as soon as reasonably possible and that the High Court's judgement will bring clarity and a resolution for all," Archbishop Mark Coleridge, head of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said in a statement. The High Court on Wednesday ordered Pell's lawyers to file their arguments for appeal by January 8, with the crown prosecutors' response due on February 5. Pell's lawyers took the case to the High Court on the basis the Court of Appeal was wrong to have found that the jury's verdict was not unreasonable. Lawyers also argued the majority judges had erred in shifting the burden of proof to the defense to show that it would have been impossible for Pell to have committed the offenses. Prosecutors said in their filing to the High Court last month there were no grounds for the appeal. They argued that the majority of the Court of Appeal made no error in their approach to evaluating the facts of the case and that the proposed appeal raised "no question of law of public importance". High Court cases are decided by a majority. Legal experts said the move by two judges of the High Court to refer Pell's bid to appeal to the full bench was unusual. Effectively the bid to appeal and the actual appeal will be heard together. The outcome is very hard to predict, said Ben Mathews, a law professor at Queensland University of Technology, who had expected the court to refuse to hear the appeal. "It's a really tricky one. The fundamental question is really whether the court decides it was open to the jury to reach the guilty verdict," Mathews said. Pell was relieved of his position as Vatican treasurer after he was convicted, but remains a cardinal. The Pope has declined to comment on the case until the appeals process is exhausted. For Pell to be dismissed from the priesthood, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would have to find him guilty following a separate canonical trial or a shorter process.

Catholic cardinal Pell gets last chance to overturn Australia's sex offences conviction

The Vatican will open an internal investigation into <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australias-cardinal-george-pell-remanded-into-custody-for-child-sex-offences-199969">Australian Cardinal George Pell </a>following his conviction for sexually assaulting two choirboys, its spokesman said Wednesday.

Pell, once one of Pope Francis' closest advisors, is the most senior Catholic cleric ever to be convicted of child sex crimes.

"The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will now handle the case following the procedure and within the time established by canonical norm," Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said in a statement.

The investigation could result in a canonical trial and Pell's eventual expulsion from the priesthood.

He may face the same fate as American Theodore McCarrick, a former cardinal who was defrocked earlier this year in a first for the Catholic church over accusations he had sexually abused a teenager.

An Australian jury unanimously found Pell guilty in December on one count of sexual abuse and four counts of indecent assault against two boys at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s.

The 77-year-old is facing up to 50 years' jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault of two choirboys in the sacristy of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in 1996-97, shortly after Pell became archbishop of Melbourne.

Pell, who has lodged an appeal against the verdict, will be sentenced on March 13.

He was to spend his first night behind bars Wednesday, capping an extraordinary fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church.

&nbsp;

The Vatican will open an internal investigation into Australian Cardinal George Pell following his conviction for sexually assaulting two choirboys, its spokesman said Wednesday.

The Vatican will open an internal investigation into Australian Cardinal George Pell following his conviction for sexually assaulting two choirboys, its spokesman said Wednesday. Pell, once one of Pope Francis' closest advisors, is the most senior Catholic cleric ever to be convicted of child sex crimes. "The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will now handle the case following the procedure and within the time established by canonical norm," Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said in a statement. The investigation could result in a canonical trial and Pell's eventual expulsion from the priesthood. He may face the same fate as American Theodore McCarrick, a former cardinal who was defrocked earlier this year in a first for the Catholic church over accusations he had sexually abused a teenager. An Australian jury unanimously found Pell guilty in December on one count of sexual abuse and four counts of indecent assault against two boys at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s. The 77-year-old is facing up to 50 years' jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault of two choirboys in the sacristy of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in 1996-97, shortly after Pell became archbishop of Melbourne. Pell, who has lodged an appeal against the verdict, will be sentenced on March 13. He was to spend his first night behind bars Wednesday, capping an extraordinary fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church.

Vatican to open probe into Australian Cardinal Pell over child sex abuse

Australian police were Wednesday deciding whether to charge Vatican finance chief George Pell over historic sex abuse allegations after receiving final advice from prosecutors.

Cardinal Pell, Australia&#39;s most senior Catholic cleric, was interviewed in Rome by Australian detectives last October over the assault claims, which he has strenuously denied.

The allegations came from two men, now in their 40s, who said he groped them in summer 1978-79 at the Eureka pool in Ballarat, Australia, where the cleric grew up and worked.

The police brief of evidence on the matter was handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this year to assess whether it was sufficient for charges to be laid.

That advice has now been handed back to them.

&quot;Victoria Police can confirm that it has received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to a current investigation into historical sexual assault allegations,&quot; they said in a statement.

&quot;Detectives from Taskforce Sano will now take time to consider that advice. As with any investigation it will be a decision for Victoria Police as to whether charges are laid.&quot;

Pell was a priest in the Ballarat diocese before becoming the Archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney ahead of being hand-picked in 2014 by Pope Francis to make the church&#39;s finances more transparent.

The claims against him came just months after Pell admitted he &quot;mucked up&quot; in dealing with paedophile priests in Victoria state in the 1970s, while giving evidence to an Australian inquiry into institutional responses to child sex abuse.

He has appeared before the long-running royal commission three times, once in person and twice via video-link.

Earlier this week, a new book, &quot;Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell&quot;, was published with fresh details on allegations against him, and new information claiming a cover-up within the Catholic Church.

Pell, who has repeatedly denied all the accusations and suggested a conspiracy against him, called the book &quot;an exercise in character assassination&quot;.

&quot;Each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false,&quot; said a statement from his Rome office on Monday.

(AFP)

Two men had accused,?Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, of groping them in?summer 1978-79

Australian police were Wednesday deciding whether to charge Vatican finance chief George Pell over historic sex abuse allegations after receiving final advice from prosecutors. Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, was interviewed in Rome by Australian detectives last October over the assault claims, which he has strenuously denied. The allegations came from two men, now in their 40s, who said he groped them in summer 1978-79 at the Eureka pool in Ballarat, Australia, where the cleric grew up and worked. The police brief of evidence on the matter was handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this year to assess whether it was sufficient for charges to be laid. That advice has now been handed back to them. "Victoria Police can confirm that it has received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to a current investigation into historical sexual assault allegations," they said in a statement. "Detectives from Taskforce Sano will now take time to consider that advice. As with any investigation it will be a decision for Victoria Police as to whether charges are laid." Pell was a priest in the Ballarat diocese before becoming the Archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney ahead of being hand-picked in 2014 by Pope Francis to make the church's finances more transparent. The claims against him came just months after Pell admitted he "mucked up" in dealing with paedophile priests in Victoria state in the 1970s, while giving evidence to an Australian inquiry into institutional responses to child sex abuse. He has appeared before the long-running royal commission three times, once in person and twice via video-link. Earlier this week, a new book, "Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell", was published with fresh details on allegations against him, and new information claiming a cover-up within the Catholic Church. Pell, who has repeatedly denied all the accusations and suggested a conspiracy against him, called the book "an exercise in character assassination". "Each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false," said a statement from his Rome office on Monday. (AFP)

Australia police mull abuse charges against Pope aide