Top Vatican official faces historical sex offence charges

A court in Australia has ruled Vatican Treasurer George Pell must face trial on charges of historical sexual offences.

He is the most senior Catholic official to be tried on such allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A statement issued by Pell's lawyers and distributed by the Sydney archdiocese says he has fully cooperated with police investigating the allegations. He has "always maintained his innocence."

The 76-year-old has been ordered to appear in court on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing.

He is on a leave of absence from his role as economy minister to Pope Francis and was called back from Rome to his home country last year to face the charges. The pontiff has said he will not comment on the case until it is over.