Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell insisted on his innocence Wednesday at a court hearing into historical sex abuse charges, his lawyer said.

"For the avoidance of doubt and because of the interest, I might indicate that Cardinal Pell pleads not guilty to all charges and will maintain the presumed innocence that he has," lawyer Robert Richter told the Melbourne Magistrates Court in comments reported by The Age newspaper.

The 76-year-old, a top advisor to Pope Francis, returned from Rome earlier this month to face multiple charges relating to offences allegedly committed decades ago, when he was a senior cleric in Australia.