Cardinal George Pell's royal commission testimony in Rome could prompt more victims of pedophile priests to come forward, says Ballarat Deputy Mayor Belinda Coates.
She's in Rome to support 15 victims who have flown there to hear Cardinal Pell's response to questioning over what he knew of sex abuse by clergy when he served in Ballarat and Melbourne.
The Ballarat-born cleric, who is now in charge of the Vatican's finances, has asked to give evidence by video link because of a heart condition he says prevents him from travelling to Australia.
His testimony to the child sex abuse royal commission will be given from a conference room in the elegant Hotel Quirinale over three to four days from Monday (Australia time).
Ms Coates told AAP in Rome on Saturday night it was important the city and people of Ballarat showed they supported sex abuse survivors.
The group of survivors in Rome - whose trip has been paid for by a crowdfunding effort - represented many who could not be there, she said.
"There are so many other survivors that we have who have been affected by clergy abuse within Ballarat.
"We know that with a crime like child sexual abuse the majority of people don't come forward and haven't told anyone."
Ms Coates said the hearing of Cardinal Pell's testimony in Rome "could actually be quite a catalyst for others to come forward as well."
She said Ballarat's support for survivors sent "a very strong signal that people have the right to be heard and believed and to have people held to account for harming others".
Cardinal Pell served in Ballarat between 1973 and 1984, presiding over a primary school where four Christian Brothers were pedophiles and living in a presbytery with Australia's worst pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, in 1973.
Ms Coates said a healing process was underway in Ballarat.
"Certainly we wouldn't be the only city that's been a hotspot, the fact is there have been some very serious offenders who've been identified."
