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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cardinal George Pell charged with sex offences | Cardinal George Pell charged with sex offences |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Australia's most senior Catholic figure, Cardinal George Pell, has been charged with sex offences. | Australia's most senior Catholic figure, Cardinal George Pell, has been charged with sex offences. |
| The charges relate to alleged "historical" incidents, police in the Australian state of Victoria said on Thursday. | The charges relate to alleged "historical" incidents, police in the Australian state of Victoria said on Thursday. |
| The allegations were made by more than one person, said Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton. | |
| Cardinal Pell has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing. | |
| The Vatican treasurer, who is based in Rome, will be required to face the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 18 July, police said. | |
| Representatives for the Catholic Church in Australia did not immediately return a request for comment. | |
| Legal process | |
| Victoria Police made the decision to charge Cardinal Pell after receiving advice from prosecutors last month. | |
| Deputy Commissioner Patton said police "process and procedures" had been no different from any other investigation. | |
| "Cardinal Pell has been treated the same as anyone else in this investigation," he said. | |
| Details of the allegations were not revealed. | |
| The charges were served on Cardinal Pell's legal representatives in Melbourne on Thursday. |