Wednesday's brief court hearing marked a significant moment in Australia, where Pell is the country's most senior Catholic.

Pell is the most senior cardinal in the history of the Catholic Church ever to face criminal charges.

The cardinal, who is being represented by one of Australia's leading criminal barristers, Robert Richter QC, has risen through the ranks from working as a young priest in Victoria to the third most powerful figure within the inner sanctum of the Vatican alongside Pope Francis.

The cardinal was charged on June 29 of this year on summons by Victoria Police and ordered to appear in court for his first hearing Wednesday.

After leaving court, Pell was pursued down the street by a media scrum before heading into his lawyers' office, which was then guarded by almost a dozen police.

His next court date will be on October 6.

Speaking at a media conference at the Holy See's press office after being charged he said: "I am looking forward, finally, to having my day in court.

"I am innocent of these charges; they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."

If the case proceeds to trial at either the County Court or Supreme Court, it is likely to be heard before a jury.

Catholic church in Australia

The trial begins as Australia is still coming to terms with the shocking statistics published by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The figures released February showed 7% of Australian priests, as well as other non-ordained religious brothers and sisters and other Church personnel, were accused of abusing children between 1950 and 2015.

The Commission found that approximately 40% of the priests from the religious order Brothers of St. John of God have allegations of abuse against them during this period.

The Commission also stated that the Church had been reluctant to investigate the reported abuse and also assisted in covering up the incidents after they were reported.

Cardinal Pell, for his part, said last month he hoped to return to his role in Rome after the conclusion of the legal case.

"All along I have been completely consistent and clear in my total rejection of these allegations," he said at the press conference at the Holy See.

"News of these charges strengthens my resolve. And court proceedings now offer me an opportunity to clear my name and then return here back to Rome to work."