Philip Temple, of no fixed address, was charged by the Metropolitan Police with 27 counts of historical sexual assault and two counts of perjury.
Mr Temple was remanded in custody until later in April, when he will appear at Croydon Crown Court.
Scotland Yard has said that the sexual assault charges relate to allegations of abuse against 12 victims, who were all aged under 16 at the time of the alleged offences.
The alleged offences are thought to have taken place between 1971 and 1998 in children's care homes managed by Christ the King Monastery on Bramley Road in Southgate, Wandsworth local authority and Lambeth local authority, according to police.
An investigation was launched following two allegations of non-recent abuse being reported to police in November 2012, according to the Metropolitan Police.
