Cardinal Pell moves to "correct record"

Cardinal George Pell says he must correct the record following "false and misleading" accusations at the abuse royal commission that he tried to bribe a victim of pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale to keep quiet.

In a statement on Wednesday from Rome, Cardinal Pell acknowledged he had been accused of being complicit in the moving of a known pedophile, of ignoring a victim's complaint, and of bribery.

"These matters again require an immediate response and it is important to correct the record particularly given the false and misleading headlines," the cardinal said.

"I would never have condoned or participated in a decision to transfer Ridsdale in the knowledge that he had abused children, and I did not do so."