MELBOURNE, Australia — The contentious committal hearing of Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic Church’s third highest-ranking priest, adjourned on Thursday, as a magistrate prepared to decide whether the case will go to trial.

The cardinal, the Vatican’s de facto finance chief, has been charged with committing “historical sexual offenses.” He is the most senior member of the Catholic Church ever to face such allegations, and the outcome of the hearing will mark a significant moment for the Vatican as it grapples with the problem of clerical sex abuse.

The magistrate, Belinda Wallington, is expected to announce in mid-April whether the cardinal will be tried.

While Cardinal Pell has been accused of decades-old sexual offenses, further details of the charges have not been made public for legal reasons. Australia’s contempt standards, among other restrictions, prohibit journalists from reporting details of some criminal proceedings.