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Australian Cardinal Pell faces abuse sentencing hearing

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Cardinal George Pell leaves the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with child sex abuse has been convicted of molesting two choirboys moments after celebrating Mass, dealing a new blow to the Catholic hierarchy's credibility after a year of global revelations of abuse and cover-up. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, photo, Cardinal George Pell gets on a car as he leaves the County Court in Melbourne, Australia. The most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with child sex abuse has been convicted on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 of molesting two choirboys moments after celebrating Mass, dealing a new blow to the Catholic hierarchy's credibility after a year of global revelations of abuse and cover-up. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago.

Victoria state County Court jury unanimously convicted Cardinal George Pell in December of abusing two 13-year-olds in a rear room of St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1996.

But unusually, Pell wasn't taken into custody immediately because he had surgery scheduled in Sydney to have both knees replaced.

Pell's sentencing hearing is set for Wednesday.

Pell could face 50 years in prison. His convictions were suppressed by a court order until Tuesday.

Pell's lawyers lodged an appeal and will apply for bail in the Court of Appeal later Wednesday. No date has been set for an appeal hearing.