The call that plunged the Catholic Church into one of its worst crises in a generation came in the early hours of Thursday morning in Rome.
Cardinal George Pell â Australia's highest ranking Catholic and one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican â had been charged with historical sex crimes, the culmination of a two-year investigation by Victoria Police.
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Cardinal George Pell: 'I am innocent'
Despite suffering 'relentless character assassination', Cardinal George Pell says he will return to Australia to face charges of historical sex offences.
Within hours, Cardinal Pell fronted the global press in Rome to proclaim his innocence, lambast those who leak to the media, and announce he was standing aside to return home to fight the charges.
"I am looking forward, finally, to having my day in court," he said. "I am innocent of these charges; they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."
The cardinal repeatedly condemned the "relentless character assassination" he said he had been subjected to since news of the police investigation became public, and that the laying of charges "strengthens" his resolve to clear his name.
He is set to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court late next month, charged on summons.
"Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges in respect of historic sexual offences, and there are multiple complainants relating to those charges," Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said at a press conference on Thursday morning.
Fairfax Media cannot reveal the charges for legal reasons. Cardinal Pell's lawyers were at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. A magistrate will next Thursday decide whether to release charge sheets to the media.
![Cardinal George Pell arrives to make a statement at the Vatican on Thursday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170629182343im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/1/d/7/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx15ai.png/1498733489242.jpg)
The development has been called a "watershed" for victims of clerical abuse, the Vatican and the Catholic community.
Brian Coyne, editor and publisher of Catholic forum Catholica, said: "The implications of this for the church in Australia and, indeed, for the church internationally and Pope Francis, scarcely bear thinking about."
![Cardinal Pell addresses the media at the Vatican.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170629182343im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/1/e/o/t/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx15ai.png/1498747385222.jpg)
Father Kevin Dillon, of St Mary's Basilica, Geelong, who has long been an outspoken supporter of abuse victims, said the charges would have an "enormous" impact on morale and the church's mission.
"So many Catholics will be devastated that these complaints have reached such heights in the church," he said. "The whole abuse saga has been so ugly for so long, and now this. The law will take its course, as it must, but this will have a devastating impact on most Catholics.
![Advocate for victims of church abuse, Father Kevin Dillon.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170629182343im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/7/c/9/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx15ai.png/1498733489242.jpg)
"I have just celebrated three Masses â one to a group of grade three students, another to my local parish and the other was a funeral â and the fact that this has happened and charges have been laid is numbing."Â
Advocates for abuse survivors have called for Cardinal Pell to honour his commitment to face the charges in person.
The 76-year-old has vowed to return to Australia, subject to medical approval from his doctors relating to a heart condition.
"All along, I have been completely consistent and clear in my total rejection of these allegations," Cardinal Pell said on Thursday. "News of these charges strengthens my resolve. And court proceedings now offer me an opportunity to clear my name and then return here back to Rome to work."
Ill health was cited as the reason Cardinal Pell was unable to travel from Rome to Australia to testify in person before the royal commission in 2016.
Leonie Sheedy, co-founder of survivor advocacy group Care Leavers Australasia Network, said: "If he can fly from Rome to London, he can fly to Australia with stopovers."
Advocate Chrissie Foster â whose daughters Emma and Katie were raped by Melbourne paedophile priest Father Kevin O'Donnell when they were in primary school in the 1980s â welcomed the development, but said she had lost confidence in Cardinal Pell.
"It wouldn't surprise me if Cardinal Pell does not come back to Australia to face the charges," Ms Foster said. "In the past, Cardinal Pell has said he would produce documents to the royal commission and didn't. He said he would come back to testify before the royal commission and he didn't."
Intense interest in the case has also led Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions, John Champion SC, to issue a warning to media that coverage of the matter be "fair and just to all parties".
The charges have already disrupted the distribution of a book about Cardinal Pell by ABC journalist Louise Milligan.
Her book, Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell, will be removed from sale to avoid the possibility of prejudicing any potential future trial against him. The book will remain on sale in other states.
If the case proceeds to a higher court, it will be heard before a jury.
Cardinal Pell will be represented by veteran barrister Robert Richter, QC.
The Archdiocese of Sydney has said that it will not fund Cardinal Pell's defence.
"While the Archdiocese will assist with the cardinal's accommodation and support, as it would for any of its bishops or priests, it is not responsible for the cardinal's legal bills arising from these matters," Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said.
Holy See spokesman Greg Burke said the Vatican respected the justice system, and noted Cardinal Pell's repeated co-operation with authorities.
"The Holy See expresses its respect for the Australian justice system, which will have to decide the merits of the questions raised.
"At the same time, it is important to recall that Cardinal Pell has openly â and repeatedly â condemned as immoral and intolerable the acts of abuse committed against minors.
"He has co-operated in the past with Australian authorities â for example, in his depositions before the royal commission â has supported the pontifical commission for the protection of minors, and finally, as a diocese and bishop in Australia, has introduced systems and procedures, both for the protection of minors and to provide assistance to victims of abuse."