Paedophile George Pell leaves Melbourne's Supreme Court building in handcuffs on Wednesday. Credit:Jason South He said he believed the surviving victim, known as 'J', had been abused by someone, but held doubts that it was by Pell. "Then there's this question of who's actually been the abuser in this case." Loading On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal disagreed. Five child sex abuse convictions against Pell were upheld after a jury of 12 unanimously found him guilty last year. One of the three judges dissented in Wednesday's judgement.

Pell, 78, the highest ranking Catholic cleric to be jailed for paedophilia, has always maintained he is innocent and could try a last ditch challenge in the High Court of Australia. Archbishop Comensoli said he accepted the court's judgment, "and that judgment at the moment is that he's guilty of child sex abuse and so we will live with that reality". George Pell ordains Peter Comensoli as bishop in 2011. Credit:Sylvia Liber He was more conservative on Wednesday, when he said he would "respectfully receive the court's decision". He has offered thoughts and prayers for the victim after the "demanding and distressing" process.

Pell has been behind bars since February when a County Court judge jailed him for at least three years and eight months. Archbishop Comensoli said he had since visited him once, in May, both in his role as Archbishop but also "as a friend". The Archbishop plans to visit him again, and said Pell could spend his final days in jail. Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli. Credit:Paul Jeffers "He might very well die in jail. He's an old man," the Archbishop told 3AW.

"He's certainly deteriorated." Archbishop Comensoli said he would welcome speaking with Pell's surviving victim or the family of the other victim, who died of a heroin overdose in 2014. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video After the verdict was upheld, Vivian Waller, the lawyer for the Cardinal's victim, read out a harrowing statement on behalf of her client. "I am relieved by the decision of the court of appeal," the man said.

"It is four years since I reported to the police. The criminal process has been stressful. "The journey has taken me to places that in my darkest moments I feared I would not return from." "Some commentators have suggested that I reported to the police somehow for my own personal gain. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I have risked my privacy, my health, my wellbeing, my family."