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| Cardinal Pell hearing to begin in Melbourne | Cardinal Pell hearing to begin in Melbourne |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Cardinal George Pell has arrived at an Australian court, amid a large media scrum, to face charges of sexual assault. | |
| The Vatican treasurer, 76, is accused of historical assaults involving "multiple complainants", police in the state of Victoria said last month. | The Vatican treasurer, 76, is accused of historical assaults involving "multiple complainants", police in the state of Victoria said last month. |
| Cardinal Pell has said he will strenuously defend himself against the allegations. | Cardinal Pell has said he will strenuously defend himself against the allegations. |
| Last month, Cardinal Pell said he was "looking forward" to his day in court. | Last month, Cardinal Pell said he was "looking forward" to his day in court. |
| Australia's most senior Catholic figure arrived in his home country earlier this month, after being granted a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges. | Australia's most senior Catholic figure arrived in his home country earlier this month, after being granted a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges. |
| Victoria Police said they had made the decision to charge Cardinal Pell after receiving advice from prosecutors earlier this year. | Victoria Police said they had made the decision to charge Cardinal Pell after receiving advice from prosecutors earlier this year. |
| "Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges and there are multiple complainants," Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said last month. | "Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges and there are multiple complainants," Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said last month. |
| Last month, Cardinal Pell told reporters: "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me." | Last month, Cardinal Pell told reporters: "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me." |
| He said in a press briefing at the Holy See that he had been the subject of a "relentless character assassination". | He said in a press briefing at the Holy See that he had been the subject of a "relentless character assassination". |
| As Vatican treasurer, Cardinal Pell is considered to be the third-ranking official in the Catholic Church. | As Vatican treasurer, Cardinal Pell is considered to be the third-ranking official in the Catholic Church. |