Top Catholic Cardinal Charged With Sexual Assault Offences

Cardinal George Pell, one of the most senior members of the Catholic Church, has been charged with multiple historical sexual assault offences in his home country of Australia.

Pell is currently a top adviser to Pope Francis and in 2013 was named one of eight cardinals tasked with investigating ways to reform the church.

He is the most senior member of the Catholic Church in Australia.

Pell has strenuously denied the allegations and says he will return from Rome as soon as possible to "clear his name." 

"He is looking forward to his day and court and will defend the charges vigorously," said the statement said, which was released shortly after Victoria Police announced he'd been charged. 

Vatican finance Chief Cardinal George Pell speaks to the media at the Quirinale hotel in Rome on March 3, 2016.

Police have not released a detailed list of charges and didn't disclose any information about alleged victims, saying only there was "multiple complainants." Police denied Pell was receiving special treatment.

"I want to be perfectly clear -- the process and the procedures that have been followed in the charging of Cardinal Pell have been the same that have been applied in a whole range of historical sex offences whenever we investigate them," Victoria Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton said at a news conference.

"Cardinal Pell has been treated the same as anyone else in this investigation."