George Pell to fly to Rome as a friend reveals 'he always intended to return'

News Corp Australia columnist Andrew Bolt says Pell is returning ostensibly to empty his Vatican apartment'

Cardinal George Pell is returning to Rome five months after a damning report was delivered by Australia's child sexual abuse royal commission finding he was aware of children being sexually abused within the Catholic Church but failed to adequately act to prevent or stop it.

The Catholic News Agency reported Pell on Tuesday would fly to Rome where he formerly held the role as prefect of the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy, effectively making him the financial controller of the church. Pell has been living at the Archdiocese of Sydney since his acquittal by Australia's high court in April on historical charges of sexual abuse.