Pell acquitted of sex abuse (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, April 7 - Former Vatican treasurer George Pell was acquitted of child sex abuse by Australia's highest court on Tuesday.
    Cardinal Pell, 78, was cleared of abusing two 13-year-old boys in the 1990s after the court found the case had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt.
    "A grave injustice which I suffered has been repaired," said Pell.
    Former president of the Italian Bishops Conference Cardinal Cammillo Ruini said "I'm happy about Pell's acquittal, he paid a very high price. Never doubted his innocence." Pell, once the Vatican's number three and a key advisor to Pope Francis, had been convicted in 2018 and his conviction was upheld on a first appeal.
    He is now a free man.
    The Vatican said in a statement Tuesday that "the Holy See, which has always had confidence in Australian justice, welcomes the unanimous sentence pronounced by the High Court on Cardinal George Pell, which acquits him of the charges of abusing minors, revoking his conviction.
"(The Holy See) reaffirms its commitment to preventing and prosecuting all abuse of minors".