VATICAN CITY/AUSTRALIA
Sky News
Australia’s most senior Catholic cleric Cardinal George Pell will tender his resignation to Pope Francis on Wednesday.
But this does not mean the controversial churchman, who has given evidence three times at the child abuse royal commission, will leave his job as the Vatican’s Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy – Vatican treasurer – any time soon.
Protocols introduced by the Pope in 2014 oblige cardinals to present their resignations at 75, and Dr Pell reaches this age on June 8.
However, the Pope does not have to accept Dr Pell’s resignation.
Observers say it is a high probability the Australian cardinal will stay on for another few years, given his crucial role in reforming the Vatican’s medieval financial structure.
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