AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail

By Sam Duncan For Daily Mail Australia

The Vatican’s third most powerful figure will receive no special treatment when he appears in court to face multiple historical sex charges.

There have been fears for the safety of Australia’s most powerful Catholic at his court appearance on July 26, as sexual abuse survivors are expected to attend.

Melbourne Magistrates Court appears unconcerned, and stated that Cardinal George Pell’s trial will be ‘business as usual.’

Court spokeswoman Clare Hogarth-Angus said: ‘This may change nearer the time, however currently there are no special plans in place, the Herald Sun reported.

The lack of special treatment also means that the former Archbishop of Sydney and Melbourne will be rubbing shoulders with hardened criminals as he lines up in court.

The potential exposure to bikies and murderers, along with the expected presence of sexual abuse survivors at the trial, has worried…