Papal official denies abuse victim bribe claim

Pope Francis’s finance minister has denied an allegation that he offered a bribe to a victim of clergy abuse to protect a paedophile priest.

The allegation against Cardinal George Pell was made under oath at a government inquiry known as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse in Australia.

The allegation has dogged the Australian cardinal for years. Commission chairman Peter McClellan said he expected his inquiry will make findings about cover-up allegations surrounding Pell.