Pell Promoted to Top Vatican Job

Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell has been promoted to a newly-created position in the Vatican, to be taken up once he has given evidence to the Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse.

Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Pell to the new role of Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, one of the Vatican's most senior positions.

The announcement by the Vatican is as part of the Pope’s drive for reform to the way the Holy See administers its finances.

CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan said Cardinal Pell will leave his current role after giving evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney next month.

“The Cardinal has advised me he remains fully committed to cooperating with the Royal Commission and making himself available as it sees fit,” Sullivan said.

“This is one of the most important roles in the Vatican which will see the Cardinal overseeing the economic and administrative affairs of the Holy See and the Vatican State,” Sullivan said.

“It will also see Cardinal Pell responsible for management and reform of the Vatican's administration and finances, reporting directly to the Pope.”

Cardinal Pell was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996 by Pope John Paul II before his appointment as Archbishop of Sydney in 2001.

The Truth Justice and Healing Council was established by the Catholic Church in Australia to coordinate the Church’s response to the Royal Commission.

Its role is to oversee the Church's engagement with the Commission, to develop new policies to protect children and young people and to help the Church respond to any future complaints appropriately and with justice, putting the needs of victims first.

For more information on the Royal Commission, go to http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx