“The Holy See, which has always expressed confidence in the Australian judicial authority, welcomes the High Court’s unanimous decision concerning Cardinal George Pell, acquitting him of the accusations of abuse of minors and overturning his sentence.”

The High Court of Australia announced that in a unanimous 7-0 decision, they found that “the jury, acting rationally on the whole of the evidence, ought to have entertained a doubt as to the applicant’s guilt.”

If the High Court fails to overturn the verdict of a 12-person jury that found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault and one count of child rape, Pell, 78, will spend at least 32 more months in prison.

In Australia, priests are joining in the effort to combat the devasting bushfires that have swept the country.

The three Americans were among eight firefighters and 31 people total who have died in the wildfires since September.

The plan would cede control over financial, human resources and governance functions to professional laity.