Cardinal George Pell has given evidence to the child abuse royal commission via video link from a Rome hotel in front of survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy.

On his first day of this week's hearings, he answered questions about what he knew about abuse by members of the Church in Ballarat and Melbourne.

What did Cardinal George Pell know about Monsignor John Day's abuse of children in Mildura in 1971/72?

Background: At the time, Cardinal Pell was a priest in Swan Hill, about 200 kilometres away.

Cardinal Pell said:

He had met Day and heard some "gossip" about him regarding a "great scandal"

He had met Day and heard some "gossip" about him regarding a "great scandal" In the early 1970s, if a priest had denied claims of paedophilia, he was "very strongly inclined to accept the denial"

In the early 1970s, if a priest had denied claims of paedophilia, he was "very strongly inclined to accept the denial" He cannot recall being told Day had a "love of young boys"

He cannot recall being told Day had a "love of young boys" He had "no such recollection" of hearing rumours of Day taking children on car trips and molesting them

He had "no such recollection" of hearing rumours of Day taking children on car trips and molesting them He could not remember any lay person mentioning rumours of Day's abuse to him, but said "they might have"

He could not remember any lay person mentioning rumours of Day's abuse to him, but said "they might have" He became aware of the substantive allegations in August 1972, following the publication of a newspaper article

He became aware of the substantive allegations in August 1972, following the publication of a newspaper article It was "quite unacceptable" that Day had been moved to another parish and that he was "critical" of those involved in that decision

What did Cardinal Pell know about the abuse of children at schools in Ballarat East?

Background: Cardinal Pell was Episcopal Vicar for Education in Ballarat from 1973 to 1984.

Cardinal Pell said:

He was told that Brother Gerald Leo Fitzgerald was kissing children but that "the general conviction was it was harmless enough"

He was told that Brother Gerald Leo Fitzgerald was kissing children but that "the general conviction was it was harmless enough" It was "certainly unusual" but that nobody said "we have to do something"

It was "certainly unusual" but that nobody said "we have to do something" He knew Brother Fitzgerald has taken boys on bike rides and swum nude with them and considered that "unusual" and "imprudent"

He knew Brother Fitzgerald has taken boys on bike rides and swum nude with them and considered that "unusual" and "imprudent" He had not heard about Brother Stephen Francis Farrell "exposing himself" to children

He had not heard about Brother Stephen Francis Farrell "exposing himself" to children It never came to his attention that Brother Ted Dowlan had a reputation for putting his hands down boys' pants

It never came to his attention that Brother Ted Dowlan had a reputation for putting his hands down boys' pants He had never been told about allegations of Dowlan taking pictures of boys in the shower — "No, never," he replied

He had never been told about allegations of Dowlan taking pictures of boys in the shower — "No, never," he replied He had heard "fleeting references" to Dowlan which he concluded "might be paedophilia activity"

He had heard "fleeting references" to Dowlan which he concluded "might be paedophilia activity" He had "never heard" of the term "bum buddies" and agreed that if children had been labelled that it "certainly suggested" abuse

He had "never heard" of the term "bum buddies" and agreed that if children had been labelled that it "certainly suggested" abuse A "significant number" of people in the community knew about the offending of some Christian Brothers in Ballarat East

What did Cardinal Pell know about Father Gerald Ridsdale's abuse of children?

Background: Father Gerard Ridsdale was convicted of dozens of counts of sexual abuse against children in western Victoria.

Cardinal Pell said:

He heard Ridsdale had taken groups of boys away on camps and overnight trips and that he considered that "unusual, but not improper"

He heard Ridsdale had taken groups of boys away on camps and overnight trips and that he considered that "unusual, but not improper" He never knew Bishop Ronald Mulkearns had knowledge of allegations against Ridsdale in the 1970s or 1980s

He never knew Bishop Ronald Mulkearns had knowledge of allegations against Ridsdale in the 1970s or 1980s Bishop Mulkearns's handling of Ridsdale (moving him to other parishes) was "catastrophic" for victims as well as the church

What does Cardinal Pell think about the Catholic Church's handling of abuse?

Cardinal Pell said: