Pope Francis has expressed doubts over the sexual abuse allegation case made against Vatican finance chief, George Pell.
The pontiff added that he will wait until Australian justice takes its course before taking a position on Cardinal George Pell, Australia's most senior Roman Catholic.
"There are doubts. 'In dubio pro reo'," he told the journalists aboard the papal plane. "We must avoid a media verdict, a verdict based on gossip."
The pope added that case is in the hands of the justice system and that one cannot judge before the justice system.
Victoria Police has been reportedly investigating the issue surrounding Pell for over a year, but has yet to approach the 75-years-old, who is currently serving as a Vatican treasurer.
ABC's 7:30 program earlier revealed details about the child sexual abuse allegation, which further fuelled the matter.
Victoria Police's Taskforce SANO has reportedly been investigating allegations coming from Ballarat, Torquay and Melbourne for more than a year.
Confirming the allegation reports, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said that if necessary, detectives would fly to Rome to question Pell, though he does not find it necessary at this point of time.
Pell has denied the allegations saying broadcasters had "no licence to destroy the reputation of innocent people."
In a statement he said that "he bore no ill will and had no desire to cause any harm to those making the allegations against him, but said they were wrong." He also claimed of doing "nothing wrong."
A statement to ABC released by Pell's office reads that, he "emphatically and unequivocally rejects any allegations of sexual abuse against him", and accused the ABC of mounting a smear campaign against him.