By AFPMore by this AuthorMELBOURNE,Australian Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis' closest advisors, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys, becoming the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes. Pell sat impassively during Tuesday's court hearing, wearing a beige sport coat over a dark shirt and clerical collar. Pell was appointed by Pope Francis to manage the Vatican finances in 2014, and has been one of the pontiff's closest advisors. 'HUMAN SACRIFICE'News of his conviction will be a serious setback as the pope pursues a campaign to show the church's determination to fight sex abuse. Just two days earlier, Pope Francis closed an historic Vatican summit on sexual abuse by priests by likening the abuse to "human sacrifice".

Source: Daily Nation February 26, 2019 04:41 UTC