Reaction from the Vatican to Pell's acquittal

The editor of a international catholic publication on Tuesday spoke about the decision to clear Cardinal George Pell of child sex crimes, saying the "entire situation was real scar on the church".

Pell, Pope Francis’ former finance minister, had been the most senior Catholic found guilty of sexually abusing children and spent 13 months in prison.

On Tuesday Australia’s High Court cleared the Pell of the crimes after it found there was reasonable doubt surrounding the testimony of a witness.

Speaking on the near-empty St Peter's Square on Tuesday Robert Mickens, Editor-in-Chief of La Croix International said the verdict was a loss for both victims and those accused of abuse as neither could be sure they would get a fair hearing.

Pope Francis had refused to comment on the conviction at the end of the first trial indicating that he wanted to let justice run its course and in his Tuesday morning mass said he was praying for the "unjustly accused."