At least two weeks of the hearing, which begins March 5, will be in closed court when complainants give evidence via video link. Once the hearing is completed, the magistrate will then decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial at a higher court.

"I'm innocent of these charges, they are false," Pell said. "The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."

Potential witness dies

The statement from the seminary comes after a man who made public accusations against Pell died, prompting speculation his death could affect the legal case.

At a short court mention Wednesday it emerged that Pell's legal team had won their legal bid to get the ABC to hand over materials including interview footage from a hard drive and transcripts. The handover is part of two court orders by Pell's defense team to be able to examine materials.

"There has been a production to the registry of a hard drive containing footage and manuscripts," defense barrister Ruth Shann told the court.

It is believed the footage contains unedited interviews with some of the complainants in the case.

Another mention hearing for the Cardinal Pell case will take place at Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 9.

No official role at seminary

In response to CNN questions, the Archdiocese of Sydney released a statement with details of his living arrangements. It is the first time details of the Cardinal's daily life away from his post in Rome have been revealed as he awaits court.

The spokesman said the Cardinal does not play an official role at the seminary, where life for the trainee priests entails a strict daily regime of prayer and teaching.

"The seminarians are very comfortable with Cardinal Pell's presence," the spokesman said. "He (Pell) does not take part in ministry for the seminary, nor is he involved in mentoring or liturgy."

The seminary is run by Father Danny Meagher, a long time friend and supporter of Cardinal Pell.

"The Rector is very happy to have him stay on the property," the spokesman said.

Father Meager has spoken of his deep admiration for the Cardinal in the past.

"He's [Pell] probably the most respected English-speaking Bishop in the world which is extraordinary and to Australians we have no idea of that," Meager told the ABC in an interview in 2013 before Pell's move to Rome.

Father Meagher was formally the Director of Mission for CatholicCare after being personally asked to take the position by Pell when he was installed as Archbishop of Sydney in 2001.

The Cardinal has traveled twice from the Sydney seminary to two court mention appearances in Melbourne. Given his senior standing in Rome, his case has attracted huge media attention.

Pressure to reform

The Catholic Church alone was the target of about 20 recommendations in what would amount to a radical shake-up of centuries of tradition and orthodoxy.

Of the survivors who reported being abused in a religious organization, 61.4% said it occurred in a Catholic organization.

The commissioners called upon the senior Australian Catholic leaders to urge the Vatican to consider major changes, including making celibacy voluntary and mandatory reporting of religious confessions.

However the suggested changes were met with resistance from the senior ranks in Australia.

Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart said that while he fully apologized on behalf of the church, he "couldn't" report any child abuse revealed to him inside a confessional.