Senior Church Post

Pope Francis has broken with Catholic tradition to appoint a woman as an undersecretary of the synod of bishops, the first to hold the post with voting rights in a body that studies major questions of doctrine.

Cardinal George Pell, one of the most senior figures in the Catholic Church, sexually assaulted two 13-year-old choirboys at a cathedral in the Australian city of Melbourne 22 years ago.

Cardinal George Pell has been granted a leave of absence from his senior Church post, the Vatican said Thursday in a statement making clear the Australian was not resigning.

Pope Francis has broken with Catholic tradition to appoint a woman as an undersecretary of the synod of bishops, the first to hold the post with voting rights in a body that studies major questions of doctrine.

Cardinal George Pell, one of the most senior figures in the Catholic Church, sexually assaulted two 13-year-old choirboys at a cathedral in the Australian city of Melbourne 22 years ago.

Cardinal George Pell has been granted a leave of absence from his senior Church post, the Vatican said Thursday in a statement making clear the Australian was not resigning.