• Cardinal George Pell was released from prison on April 7, 2020 after the High Court quashed his five convictions for child sexual abuse.

Tony Abbott has visited the jail where convicted pedophile Cardinal George Pell is being held in Melbourne, declaring he was “simply visiting a friend”.

Seven News on Monday filmed the former prime minister leaving the facility where Cardinal Pell is being held after being found guilty of forcing two 13-year-old boys to perform oral sex on him.

Mr Abbott ignored a reporter’s questions about Cardinal Pell before climbing into a taxi.

“Look, I was simply visiting a friend, that’s all,” he said.

He did not respond to questions about “What sort of spirits” Pell was in.

Tony Abbott has visited convicted paedophile Cardinal George Pell in a Melbourne jail. https://t.co/Q2ImsBMAlo #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/PVoYeo2s6n

— 7NEWS Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) December 2, 2019

Cardinal Pell will have a final chance to overturn his conviction in March, with the High Court agreeing to hear appeal arguments.

In December 2018, a jury unanimously found Pell guilty of five sexual offences against two 13-year-old boys.

One of the boys had died and the sole witness to the attacks was the surviving victim.

County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd later revealed in sentencing remarks that Cardinal Pell was found guilty of one count of sexual penetration of a child aged under 16 through forced oral sex, and four counts of an indecent act with or in the presence of a child aged under 16.

Former Victorian senator Derryn Hinch said Mr Abbott’s visit to the jail was a “disgrace”.

“For Tony Abbott, a former prime minister, to visit Pell, a convicted pedophile, is a disgrace and a cruel insult to his victims,” Mr Hinch said.

The offences were committed in the sacristy of St Patrick’s Cathedral after mass in December 1996.

Earlier this year, Mr Abbott confirmed he had phoned Pell the day after his guilty verdict was made public.

“It was a call I put into him. Yes, I spoke to him,” Mr Abbott said.

“Well he’s been found guilty by a court of a horrible crime, an absolutely horrible crime.

“Let’s see what the appeal court finds. It’s a shocking and devastating result.”

Former prime minister John Howard wrote a character reference for Pell after he was convicted for child sex abuse.

Mr Abbott defended his phone call to his friend despite the “damning verdict”.

“When it comes to the phone call, look, I’m not a fair-weather friend,” he said.

“This was someone who was obviously going through a very, very bad experience.

“Now I’m not saying that he’s the only one going through bad experiences, but he has been a friend of mine for a long time, and at a time like this you’ve got to feel for people.

“You’ve got to feel for the victims, who’ve been dreadfully betrayed by an institution they should have been able to trust.

“You’ve got to feel for the people who are dismayed by this verdict against someone they’d put up on a pedestal.”