Australia's most senior Catholic cleric Cardinal George Pell will tender his resignation to Pope Francis on Wednesday.

But this does not mean the controversial churchman, who has given evidence three times at the child abuse royal commission, will leave his job as the Vatican's Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy - Vatican treasurer - any time soon.

Cardinal George Pell presents a cricket bat to Pope Francis after a friendly cricket match at the Vatican in October 2015. Credit:AP

Protocols introduced by the Pope in 2014 oblige cardinals to present their resignations at 75, and Dr Pell reaches this age on June 8.

However, the Pope does not have to accept Dr Pell's resignation.