AUSTRALIA
Sherbrooke Times
AFP
Cardinal George Pell, number three on the Vatican, arrived Monday in Australia, where it must be heard in two weeks on suspicion of sexual assault.
Pope Francis has granted leave to the head of finance for the Holy see to enable him to ensure its defense.
The prelate 76-year-old was charged in late June for ‘ crimes of sexual assault, old “, without any precision on the facts alleged or the ages of the alleged victims. It is convened on 26 July before the court of Melbourne for a preliminary hearing.
Cardinal Pell has landed in Sydney and quickly left the airport. His spokesman said in a press release that it would not make any declaration, but stated that he was grateful for ” the many messages of support he continues to receive “.
“When he was informed of his indictment by the police of the State of Victoria, cardinal Pell said in Rome that”he rejected categorically the accusations, that he was completely innocent and that he would be back in Australia to defend themselves,” he said.
“His return today should not be a surprise,” he added.
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