The cardinal is sentenced to six years in prison

George Pell sat uttryckslös in the courtroom when the judge Peter Kidd read up on his reasoning behind the judgment. In his speech he called the abuse of the ”brazen and violent”, especially given the cardinal's obvious position of power vis-à-vis the boys. The judge said further that ”the abuse contained an additional layer of humiliation and degradation for the victims because they witnessed each other's abuse.”

, one of the world's highest-ranking catholics, out and driven away in handcuffs. Only after three years and eight months he can apply for parole.

the Reactions to the extremely guarded in the judicial process were not long in coming. Many were upset over the relatively short punishment in comparison with the survivors, the victim's lifelong suffering. After the punishment he released via his lawyer that he did not really take in what happens, and that everything is overshadowed by Pells appeal.

the Crowd outside the courtroom where cardinal George Pell was sentenced to prison. Photo: Andy Brownbill/AP

The second victim died in 2014 of a drug overdose. Outside the courtroom his father told him that he hoped for a longer sentence. ”My son is not coming back, his life was wasted.”

Melbourne has chosen not to comment on the punishment. The prime minister, Scott Morrison, urged the public to support the survivor to the sexual assault. ”For me it's about those who endured the abuse. It is the worst thing I can imagine,” he said to the media on Wednesday.

In June decided on the George Pells appeal be adopted.