George Pell, the country's most senior Catholic, has become the highest-ranking Vatican official to be charged in the church's sexual abuse scandal.
Speaking in Melbourne, Victoria state police deputy commissioner Shane Patton said: "It is important to note that none of the allegations that have been made against Cardinal Pell have, obviously, been tested in any court yet.
"Cardinal Pell, like any other defendant, has a right to due process."
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said Cardinal Pell would return to Australia from the Vatican as soon as possible to fight the charges. The 76 year old is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18th July.
He has repeatedly denied abuse allegation.
The charges following longstanding allegations that Cardinal Pell mishandled cases of clergy abuse while he was archbishop of Melbourne and later, Sydney.
Giving evidence the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse last year, Pell acknowledged "enormous mistakes" had been made by the church in allowing thousands of children to be abused by clergy.
Cardinal Pell more recently found himself to focus of clergy sex abuse probe. Last year, Australian police travelled to Vatican to interview him.
Other than stating there are multiple complainants against Pell, police have given no other details of the allegations.
The charges pose a significant blow for Pope Francis who has promised a "zero tolerance" approach to abuse.