. >> bringing us reactions from rome, josephine mckenna. this is sending shockwaves through the catholic church. the highest-ranking official in the vatican and the most senior catholic cleric in history to face sex abuse charges. cardinal pell faced the media today to say that he was facing relentless character assassination and was the victim of media leaks over the face of two years. -- he says thed allegations are false. this has caused such a fascinating reaction in rome just seeing the reactions from who are still shocked because the cardinal has finally been charged. please determined to go to australia to fight these charges and clear his name. to come back to the job that he is leaving in order to do this. unfoldshave to see what in the court case. he certainly doesn't believe his career at the vatican is over yet. even though today cardinal pell was looking very solemn and even emotionally distraught. >> he is set to appear in court in melbourne on the 18th of july. for the time being what does this mean for pope francis? >> cardi