A passenger aboard the flight told The Sydney Morning Herald that Cardinal Pell, who traveled in business class, appeared “calm and not stressed.” The cardinal left the airport through a side entrance and did not answer any questions.

Cardinal Pell arrived just before 6 a.m. from Singapore. A spokesman explained in a statement that the cardinal had staggered his flights home on the advice of his doctors. The spokesman said that his return today “should not be a surprise.”

“When he was told of the charges by the Victoria police, Cardinal Pell said in Rome he totally rejected the allegations, was completely innocent of the charges and would return to Australia to vigorously defend himself and clear his name,” the statement said.

What happens next?

“It is rare for a cardinal, a prince of the church, to be accused of sexual abuse,” Jacqueline Williams wrote in our initial coverage of the charges.

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied the allegations against him. He will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 26 for a filing hearing.