"historical sexual offences", making him the most senior Roman Catholic official to face such accusations.
Pell, 76, a
top adviser to Pope Francis, did not speak as he was escorted to and from
Melbourne Magistrates' Court by police through a large crowd of media,
protesters and supporters. He was not required to enter a plea.
Australian
police said last month Pell had been summoned to appear on charges of
"historical sexual offences" from multiple complainants.
"For
the avoidance of doubt ... Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all charges,
and will maintain the presumed innocence that he has," Pell's lawyer,
Robert Richter, told the court.
Magistrate
Duncan Reynolds said he was denying media requests to see the charge sheets
against Pell, who also did not speak during the five-minute hearing.
Reynolds set
a committal hearing date of Oct. 6 and told Pell's lawyers they would receive a
summary of the charges by Sept. 8.
A magistrate
decides at a committal hearing whether prosecutors have enough evidence for a
case to be committed to trial. Pell is not required to enter a formal plea
until a magistrate determines whether there is cause for a full trial.
Pell has
previously said he was looking forward to his day in court to fight charges he
said are false.
Protesters
and supporters carrying religious icons shouted as Pell entered and then left
the courthouse in central Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city.
Pell is on a
leave of absence from his Vatican role as Francis' economy minister, which he
started in 2014. The pontiff has said he will not comment on the case until it
is over.
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