Cardinal George Pell says the Catholic Church's failure to deal with Melbourne pedophile priests is shameful.
Cardinal Pell, now the Vatican's financial chief, says church leaders failed to address the conduct of abusers such as Fr Peter Searson but has again defended his handling of abuse complaints.
One of Searson's victims, Julie Stewart, has criticised Cardinal Pell for telling a Victorian inquiry there may have been victims of the priest - who was never convicted of a sex offence - after years earlier apologising to her for the abuse.
Cardinal Pell was very moved by Ms Stewart's courage and openness in giving evidence to the child abuse royal commission, a spokesperson said in a statement from the Vatican.
"There is no inconsistency between the evidence provided by the Cardinal at the Victorian parliamentary inquiry and apology provided by Cardinal Pell to Ms Stewart," the statement said.
"The failure of church leaders to address the conduct of Peter Searson and other abusers is shameful and as the evidence at the Victorian parliamentary inquiry illustrates, was one of the main reasons why the Cardinal moved so swiftly to establish the Melbourne Response."
Cardinal Pell set up the Melbourne Response to handle abuse complaints in the archdiocese when he became Melbourne archbishop in 1996.
Ms Stewart received $25,000 in compensation from the church and an apology from the archbishop in 1998 after being indecently assaulted by Searson during confession in 1985.
Cardinal Pell told the Victorian inquiry two police investigations into Searson were inconclusive and the Catholic Education Office was never able to pin anything on him.
Asked about victims' views that during the period the church's stance was "hear no evil, see no evil", Cardinal Pell said: "I think that is an objectionable suggestion, with no foundation in the truth.
"No conviction was recorded for Searson on sexual misbehaviour. There might be victims."
In a media interview Ms Stewart said that response prompted her to go to the royal commission.
"I was absolutely so angry ... and I thought 'let's get 'em'," Ms Stewart told the ABC.
