Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell's appeal for n unanimous jury verdict was rejected. An Australian appeals court upheld convictions against him in the case of sexually abusing children. The decision against the senior catholic brought cheers from scores of abuse survivors and victims' advocates demonstrating outside court.
Pope Francis' former finance minister was guilty of molesting two 13-year-old choirboys in Melbourne's St. Patrick's Cathedral more than two decades ago. The judgement will be examined by his lawyers and accordingly appeal to the High Court.
"Cardinal Pell is obviously disappointed with the decision today," a statement from his spokeswoman Katrina Lee said.
He was sentenced to six years in prison in March and is no longer a member of Francis' Council of Cardinals or a Vatican official. After the appeal was rejected and Pell was pronounced guilty, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would be stripped of his Order of Australia honour.
Pell, 78, showed no emotion when Chief Justice Anne Ferguson read the verdict to a packed courtroom but bowed his head moments later.
"I respectfully receive the court's decision and I encourage everyone to do the same," Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli said in a statement.
Clerical sexual abuse and the Catholic Church's handling of such cases worldwide have thrown Francis' papacy into turmoil.
