"Cardinal George Pell has been convicted in an Australian court of sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s, in a decision suppressed by a gag order until Tuesday, making him the highest-ranking Catholic cleric to be criminally punished for such offenses.
The suppression order was lifted after prosecutors dropped separate charges against Pell stemming from the alleged assault of young boys. As a result, Pell will not face another trial.
Responding to the outcome of the trial in Melbourne, the Vatican said Tuesday the news was 'painful' and indicated that Pell will appeal. The Vatican said Pell has been under 'precautionary' orders to refrain from contact with minors and cannot exercise public ministry. Those measures will remain in place, the Vatican said, while it awaits a 'definitive assessment of the facts.'"
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