Two-page report stated flying home placed him at risk of 'heart failure'

Six weeks earlier Cardinal Pell claimed he was 'too ill' to return to Australia

Cardinal George Pell risked a heart attack if he flew home to Australia to face questioning at the Child Abuse Royal Commission earlier this year but that hasn't stopped him tucking into hearty meals of steak and chips.

Australia's most senior Catholic has been pictured strolling through Piazza Navona in Rome with a colleague before they sit down at the Domiziano restaurant to enjoy a beer.

Cardinal Pell, 74, submitted a two-page medical report in February which stated a flight to Australia to give evidence would severely impact his health and possibly lead to 'heart failure'.

He was allowed to provide testimony via video link and concluded his evidence on March 3. The images of Pell eating the heavy meal and drinking a beer were taken six weeks later, on April 18.

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Cardinal Pell pictured enjoying meal of steak and chips in Rome Australia's most senior Catholic washed down his food with a tall glass of beer. He was excused from returning to Australia to give evidence because he a health report suggested he was 'at risk of heart failure'

Cardinal George Pell insisted he was 'too ill' to fly home to Australia earlier this year to face questioning at the Child Abuse Royal Commission. He was pictured at the Caffe Domiziano Restaurant, Piazza Navona, Rome

Australia's most senior Catholic, Cardinal Pell has been pictured strolling through a piazza in Rome with a colleague before they sit down at a restaurant to enjoy a beer

Cardinal Pell seemed to be in good spirits during a lunch at a restaurant at a piazza in Rome

Cardinal Pell, 74, submitted a two-page medical report in February which stated a flight to Australia to give evidence would severely impact his health and was allowed to do so via video link

Australia's most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, has been pictured strolling through a piazza in Rome

Despite being grilled over several days in February and March Cardinal Pell, who is considered the number three in the Vatican and in charge of the organisation's finances, has always maintained his innocence and refused to resign.

He has been under fire since allegations emerged about him allegedly turning a blind eye to the abuse of children by members of the clergy in Ballarat, in central Victoria.

Cardinal Pell was questioned by the abuse royal commission over pedophile priests in the Ballarat and Melbourne dioceses when he was serving there in the 1970s and 80s.

He said he regretted putting the church before victims in the past but he had never put himself before either.

Cardinal Pell was questioned over Catholic priest Gerald Ridsdale, who was jailed on pedophile charges in 1994, and other pedophile priests in the Ballarat and Melbourne dioceses.

While acknowledging that his denials of a cover-up angered abuse victims who said he must have known, he said he regretted putting the church before victims in the past but he had never put himself before either.

Cardinal George Pell tucks into steak and chips and washes it down with beer - but he was 'too ill' to travel home to Australia to face grilling over church child sex abuse scandal

Cardinal George Pell insisted he was 'too ill' to fly home to Australia earlier this year to face questioning at the Child Abuse Royal Commission but that hasn't stopped him tucking into hearty meals of steak and chips

Cardinal Pell spent four days giving evidence to the Royal Commission (left) said Gerald Ridsdale (right) was undoubtedly a capable man and was not someone people complained about to him at the time

Catholic priest Gerald Ridsdale, who was jailed on pedophile charges in 1994

He said the reason he sometimes came across as 'wooden' and 'armour-plated' was partly to do with how he'd been trained, partly to do with his personality and partly to do with 'needing to survive'.

Cardinal Pell said at the time the 'evil, insensitive stereotype' being pushed by the media was incorrect.

'It's very, very difficult and upsetting. There's no way around it and I've tried to put out the truth,' he said.

Cardinal Pell described claims that Victoria Police had also been investigating him over alleged abuse as 'extraordinary and completely false'.

He said he had not been approached by police.

He has always steadfastly refused to resign from his high-ranking position.

'I wouldn't resign as that would be taken as an admission of guilt,' Cardinal Pell said.

Cardinal Pell said he was in Rome trying to do with Vatican finances what he did to clean up pedophilia in Melbourne.

Cardinal George Pell (C) speaks at the end of a meeting with the sex abuse victims in Rome in March

Cardinal Pell leaves the Quirinale hotel after meeting the relatives and victims of sex abuse



