By Aneeta Bhole
Daily Mail (UK)
July 10, 2016

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3682811/Cardinal-George-Pell-given-reduced-role-Vatican-Pope-Francis.html

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/10/05/3603B97C00000578-3682811-image-a-49_1468126356230.jpg

In a slight to Pell, Francis says he's removing the tasks because there needs to be an unequivocal and full separation between those who manage Vatican assets and those who supervise them

It comes months after Cardinal Pell (pictured) was questioned by the abuse royal commission over pedophilic priests in the Ballarat and Melbourne when he was serving there in the 70s and 80s

[with video]

The Pope has removed many of Cardinal George Pell's administrative functions from his role as the Vatican's key financial office.

Pope Francis essentially reversed a 2014 law that had transferred the main operational section of the patrimony office to the Australian cardinal's Secretariat for the Economy as of Saturday. 

In a slight to Pell, Francis says he's removing the tasks because there needs to be an unequivocal and full separation between those who manage Vatican assets and those who supervise them.

Cardinal Pell, a critic of the Vatican's financial wastefulness, assumed control in a bid to assert authority over different areas of the Vatican's spending.

But overtime Francis has managed to trim his reach.

The announcement comes just months after Cardinal Pell appeared in front of a Rome royal commission into sexual abuse.

He appeared in front of the commission to answer questions about why he did not come forward against allegations made about a priest, known to him, sexually abusing boys at a Victorian Catholic school.

Cardinal Pell was questioned by the abuse royal commission over pedophile priests in the Ballarat and Melbourne dioceses when he was serving there in the 1970s and 80s.

He said he regretted putting the church before victims in the past but he had never put himself before either.

Meanwhile a mother of six children abused by a Ballarat clergyman 30 years ago says she was 'absolutely disgusted' when photos revealed Cardinal George Pell devouring a meal of steak and chips and drinking beer in a Rome restaurant in May.

Ruth Lane said the images show Cardinal Pell's claims of risking 'heart failure' if forced to return to Australia to face questioning at the Child Abuse Royal Commission in February was insensitive.

Mrs Lane's six children were all victims of abuse by family friend Brother Grant Ross, and her second son John took his life at age 19.

Cardinal Pell was questioned over Catholic priest Gerald Ridsdale, who was jailed on pedophile charges in 1994, and other pedophile priests in the Ballarat and Melbourne dioceses.