Not Pell security in Rome scuffle: church

Italian police and not Cardinal George Pell's security staff were involved in a scuffle with media outside a Rome hotel, the cardinal's office says.

Reporters outside the hotel say Cardinal Pell's security team was heavy-handed, pushing camera crews aside as he entered to give his videolink evidence to the child abuse royal commission.

Cardinal Pell is sorry to hear of the incident with an SBS reporter and cameraman but it did not involve his security staff as has been reported, his office said in a statement.

"The Italian police are in charge of security outside and inside the hotel where the hearing is taking place and have been liaising with commission staff," the statement said.

Cardinal Pell asked a member of his team to speak to the reporter to check on his wellbeing, it said.

The Italian police and commission staff are investigating the incident, Cardinal Pell's office said.