ROME
Eyewitness News (South Africa)
Reuters
SYDNEY – Pope Francis granted top adviser Cardinal George Pell leave to return to his native Australia to face charges of sexual abuse, a Vatican spokesperson said on Thursday as Pell declared his innocence.
At a news conference called hours after Australian police charged him with multiple historical sex crimes, Pell said he would return to clear his name after a two-year investigation he described as characterised by “relentless character assassination”.
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