George Pell served as the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy at the Vatican from 2014 to 2019. The Secretariat for the Economy is one of the Vatican’s main departments and is responsible for overseeing the administration and management of the Holy See’s financial and economic affairs. As Prefect, Pell was effectively the Vatican’s chief financial officer and had significant authority over the management of the Vatican’s budget and financial operations. He was also a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers, an advisory body to the Pope that was established to help reform the Vatican’s financial and administrative structures.

In December 2018, Cardinal George Pell was convicted of sexually abusing two choirboys in 1996 and 1997, while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne. He was sentenced to six years in prison and was considered a high-profile prisoner. He immediately appealed the conviction, and the case was heard by the Court of Appeals of Victoria, the highest court of the Australian state of Victoria. In August 2019, the court upheld his conviction and his sentence, which means he was to serve at least three years and eight months in prison. However, on April 7, 2020, The High Court of Australia overturned his conviction, and acquit him of the charges. It was determined that the trial jury’s verdicts were unreasonable, thus ending his legal proceedings.

George Pell served as the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy at the Vatican from 2014 to 2019. He was appointed to that position by Pope Francis in February 2014, and he held the position for about five years. During his tenure as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, he was involved in major reforms in the Vatican’s financial management and administration, and also played a significant role in shaping Pope Francis’ vision for the Church. He was also member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers, until his returning to Australia to face the sexual abuse charges.