FROM VATICAN CITY WITH THE LATEST THERE.
LATEST THERE. HEY, ANNE, GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, HODA,
THE VATICAN CALLS THE CONVICTION
OF CARDINAL GEORGE PELL PAINFUL
AND REVEALS THAT HE IS
RESTRICTED FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY.
THIS COMES LESS THAN 48 HOURS
AFTER POPE FRANCIS DECLARED AN
ALL-OUT WAR ON CLERGY SEX ABUSE.
NOW, THIS CONVICTION THREATENS
TO SEND ONE OF THE POPE’S
CLOSEST ADVISERS TO PRISON.
AUSTRALIAN CARDINAL GEORGE PELL
ONCE A MEMBER OF POPE FRANCIS’S
INNER CIRCLE AND THE CHIEF OF
VATICAN FINANCES NOW CONVICTED
OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
IN DECEMBER AN AUSTRALIAN JURY
FOUND PELL GUILTY OF ABUSING TWO
13-YEAR-OLD CHOIR BOYS.
THOUGH THE VERDICT WAS REACHED
IN DECEMBER, AN AUSTRALIAN COURT
ORDER PREVENTED THE DECISION
FROM BEING MADE PUBLIC UNTIL
NOW.
NOW. THE VERDICT SHOCKING MANY HERE
AT THE VATICAN.
>> I HOPE AT ALL TIMES IS THAT
THROUGH THIS PROCESS JUSTICE
WILL BE SERVED.
>> Reporter: ONE BOY SAID PELL
EXPOSED HIMSELF AND MOLESTED
THEM BACK IN 1996 WHEN HE CAUGHT
THEM SWIGGING SACRAMENTAL WINE
AFTER MASS.
AFTER MASS. A SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WEEKS
LATER.
LATER. THIS WAS THE SECOND TRIAL ON
THESE CHARGES.
THESE CHARGES. THE FIRST JURY COULD NOT REACH A
DECISION.
DECISION. >> THERE’S A LOT OF SKEPTICISM
ABOUT IT IN COMPARISON WITH
OTHER CASES.
OTHER CASES. IS THAT RIGHT?
THAT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THE
GEORGE PELL WE KNOW.
>> Reporter: PELL WAS SUPPOSED
TO FACE ANOTHER TRIAL FOR
MOLESTING BOYS IN A SWIMMING
POOL IN THE 1970s, BUT THOSE
CHARGES WERE DROPPED, AND THE
SUPPRESSION ORDER LIFTED.
PELL FACES PRISON TIME,
SOMETHING OTHER CHILD ABUSE
SURVIVORS ARE DEMANDING.
>> WE WANT TO SEE HIM FRY IN
HELL FOREVER.
HELL FOREVER. >> Reporter: JUST THIS PAST
SUNDAY POPE FRANCIS ENDED A
CONFERENCE ON SEXUAL ABUSE IN
THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH. THE PONTIFF CALLING FOR AN
ALL-OUT BATTLE AGAINST A CRIME
HE SAID SHOULD BE ERASED FROM
THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
PELL WHO IS 77 INSISTS THAT HE’S
INNOCENT.
INNOCENT. IN THE PAST HE’S CALLED THESE
ACCUSATIONS VILE AND DISGUSTING.