Sexual abuse charges against Cardinal George Pell have been a long time coming.

He has been charged with multiple historical sexual abuse offences, which he will face in a Melbourne court next month.

Pell is Australia's most senior Catholic and the third ranking official at the Vatican.

Boston Globe investigative reporter Michael Rezendes told Rachel Smalley it comes as no surprise.

"This is the direct result of the Vatican's failure to come to grips with this issue. After all it's been 15 years more than 15 years since my colleagues and I on the Boston Globe broke this story."

Rezendes said the Vatican has made many fine statements about victims of clergy sex abuse and its plans to do something about it, but says really nothing has happened.

LISTEN ABOVE AS MICHAEL REZENDES SPEAKS WITH RACHEL SMALLEY