Cardinal George Pell, former Vatican treasurer and top advisor to Pope Francis has been found guilty of sexually abusing two teenage choirboys in the 1990s.
Cardinal Pell, 77, has been jailed for six years for the crime. He was found guilty last December for sexually abusing the then 13-year-old choir boys 22 years ago in the sacristy of the St.Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne. Pell is the most senior Catholic to be convicted of sex offences.
The sentence means that Pell will serve three years and eight months of his sentence without a chance of Parole. It is possible he will die in jail. He has to also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
County Court of Victoria Chief Judge Peter Kidd called Pell's crimes 'breathtakingly arrogant' and said the abuse has caused 'long-term and serious harm.' "In my view, your conduct was permeated by staggering arrogance," said Kidd in handing down the sentence after Pell was convicted of five charges of sexually abusing two children.
Pell appeared in court with a priest's collar for the first time and stared at the judge as the sentence was handed down. Pell has always maintained his innocence and his appeal has been set for June.
The judge took into consideration Pell's ailing health as he suffers from high blood pressure and congestive heart failure which requires him to have a pacemaker.
Judge observed that as the cardinal still claims he is innocent and is planning on appealing the conviction, he had shown 'no remorse or contrition'.
Pell, who was once considered a pope in waiting, was described by victims on how he exposed himself to them, fondled their genitals and masturbated and forced one of them to perform oral sex act on him.
Pell was found guilty by a jury on four charges of indecent acts and one of sexual penetration. He had faced a maximum of 10 years in jail for each charge.