Cardinal George Pell said
Thursday that he had taken leave of absence from a top Vatican
post to defend himself of sexual assault charges in his homeland
Australia.
"I'm totally innocent of these charges," Pell, 76, told a
press conference after Victoria state Police said he had been
summoned to appear in court to face multiple counts of
"historical sexual assault offenses".
The Vatican press office said Pope Francis had granted Pell a
leave of absence as prefect of the secretariat for the economy
"so he can defend himself".
"All along I have been completely consistent and clear in my
total rejection of these allegations," Pell said, adding that he
had kept Pope Francis regularly informed about the situation.
Pell blasted media leaks about the case and said he was the
victim of "relentless character assassination". "I'm looking
forward, finally, to my day in court," the cardinal said. "The
whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me".
The Vatican said the pope had appreciated Pell's honesty
during his three years of work in the Roman Curia and was
grateful for his work on reforms in the economic and
administrative sectors.
"The Holy See expresses its respect for the Australian
justice system that will have to decide the merits of the
questions raised," the statement read.
"At the same time, it is important to recall that Card. Pell
has openly and repeatedly condemned as immoral and intolerable
the acts of abuse committed against minors; has cooperated in
the past with Australian authorities (for example, in his
depositions before the Royal Commission); has supported the
Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors; and finally,
as a diocesan bishop in Australia, has introduced systems and
procedures both for the protection of minors and to provide
assistance to victims of abuse".
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