He was born in Ballarat, toe a public and father and a strict Irish Catholic mother in 1941.

His towering physique made an impression at school, where he was a debater and a footballer, Catholic historian and former priest, Poor Collins umpired some of his games.

He always had leadership ability.

It was a strong personality and he was a very rough football, A very tough, very strong on.

Let nobody get in his way.

The president of George Pill gave up football for seminary life and study in Rome before being ordained as a priest in 1966.

After a doctorate at Oxford, he returned to a stranger in 1971 he shared accommodation in East Ballarat with fellow priest Gerald Ridsdale.

20 years later, her pill accompanied Ridsdale to court.

Ridsdale pleaded guilty to abusing Children, but Pelle denied any knowledge of his offenses.

I didn't know whether it was common knowledge or whether it wasn't.

It's a sad story and it wasn't of much interest to me.

As a young priest, Pel rose quickly through the ranks to be in charge of Catholic schools in Balleret.

After further education and more senior roles, he became a bishop and then archbishop of Melbourne in 1996.

Pel soon gained a national reputation as a staunch defender of the Catholic faith, condemning abortion, the ordination of women and homosexuality.

We're aware that it does exist.

We believe that it's such activity is wrong.

Ready.

The type of Catholicism's that Pel promoted was what I'd call boots and all Catholicism's.

You know, your cop.

It's sweet.

You do what you're told.

As archbishop of Milton, George Pell engineered an in house inquiry and compensation process for victims of sexual abuse called the Milkman response.

It's a matter of regret that the Catholic Church has taken some time to come to grips with this sexual assault issue adequately, George Help tell.

The victims and their families have criticized George Pell for lacking compassion in our interactions with the nail cardinal archbishop Pill Way experienced associate Patrick.

Lack of empathy.

When we went to them, went to George Pal.

They just crushed us, bleed us and spoke over us.

In 2002 George Pell moves north to become archbishop of Sydney and continued to publicly express sorrow and regret to victims of abuse, especially those who have suffered at the hands of fellow Christians, Christian officials, priests, religious teachers.

But just after becoming Sydney's top Catholic, Pel was accused of abusing a boy at a camp in Victoria in 1961 when he was a trainee priest.

I believe completely George Pills Denial.

A retired judge found honesty in both the accuser's account and Pell's denial, but rejected the complaint.

There's no much to stick.

I've been exonerated.

Pell's rise in Rome continued becoming a cardinal in 2003.

He built relationships with powerful and influential cardinals, and so his name then became known in Rome, and he was seen as the go to person on Australian affairs.

Lift up your hearts.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

By 2014 he was one of the most powerful men in the Vatican, becoming its treasurer.

He consolidated the whole papal financial system.

I was very confused, I responded.

Viral video link from Rome in 2016 George Pell told the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse that he was unaware of the crimes of others as he rose through the church.

Are you telling me that to save you?

Yes.

It's an extraordinary position.

Travel Council, This wasan extraordinary world, our world off crimes and cover ups.

When abuse allegations against George Pell himself were aired on 7 30 in 2016 Victorian police confirmed they were investigating.

Today, Victoria police have charged Cardinal George Pell with historical sexual assault offenses from Rome.

Pel responded quickly.

I'm looking forward, finally toe having my day in court.

I'm innocent of these charges.

They are false.

The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.

George Pell returned to Australia for his day in court, and in December a jury found him guilty of child sexual offenses against two choirboys in Melbourne in 1996.

But this is the shock of shocks.

And so, um, I know I'm almost at a loss as to answer the question where we go from here on Dhe.

I think the only thing that I can ask off the bishops is that that they get together and offer us some leadership because God knows the Catholic Church in Australian needs it.