Vatican not taking action over cardinal found guilty of molesting choirboys ‘until appeals process completed’

Spokesman says 77-year-old has right to ‘defend himself until the last stage of appeal’

The Vatican is taking no further action after Australian cardinal George Pell was found guilty of molesting two choirboys while appeals run their course.

Spokesperson Alessandro Gisotti said the conviction was “painful” for many, but said the cardinal, 77, had proclaimed his innocence and had the right to “defend himself until the last stage of appeal”.

Cardinal Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with sex abuse, faces a maximum of 50 years in prison.

The conviction of Pell, who had been appointed by Pope Francis to be the Vatican’s treasurer but has now lost the position, risks further staining the pontiff’s record on cracking down on credibly accused clergy.

Mr Gisotti said Australian church leaders had imposed restrictions on Pell when he returned to his native country in June 2017 to defend himself.

The spokesperson said Pope Francis “confirmed” measures prohibiting Pell from practising his ministry in public and from having contact with minors “in any way or form”.

Mr Gisotti noted Pell “maintains his innocence”. But, he added that while awaiting the “definitive assessment of the facts”, Pell is “prohibited from exercising public ministry and from having any voluntary contact whatsoever with minors”.

Those measures also include no celebration of mass in public.

Pell’s lawyers have said they will appeal the verdict. It comes at an embarrassing time for the Vatican who just two days ago held a major conference on preventing sex abuse.

The Pope ended the conference on Sunday by calling for an “all out battle” against a crime that should be “erased from the face of the Earth”.

Cardinal George Pell faces up to 50 years in jail (AFP/Getty) (AFP)

In 2016, reports emerged that Australian police were investigating abuse allegations against Pell that involved minors.

But at the time the Pope allowed the cardinal to stay on in his Vatican roles as his leading financial adviser and as the pontiff’s economy chief.

Pope Francis had tapped Pell as his economy minister in 2014, early in his papacy, even though some allegations against the Australian were known at that time.

Mr Gisotti said Pell’s five-year term as economy minister for the Vatican had expired on 24 February but would not say if he was still technically in the position pending the naming of a successor.

The cardinal took indefinite leave from the post when he returned to Australia to fight the charges.

Sentencing hearings were set to begin in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Additional reporting by agencies