Cardinal George Pell has labelled an article about him in the Fairfax media on Monday as a "smear of the most vindictive kind".
A statement released by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney on Monday says the article misrepresents the outcome of a 2002 inquiry into an allegation against Cardinal Pell.
"These statements are utterly false and seriously defamatory," the church said in a statement.
"They have no basis in fact and deliberately misrepresent the outcome of a 2002 inquiry by a retired Victorian Supreme Court judge which completely exonerated Cardinal Pell of allegations made against him."
The article also quoted Australian commentator Paul Collins as saying Cardinal Pell had "no chance" of being elected Pope after progressive Catholics lobbied overseas journalists and voting cardinals to make sure they were aware of the 2002 inquiry into allegations against the Sydney archbishop.
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Cardinal Pell is in Rome to take part in the conclave that will elect a new Pope.
The diocese's statement said Cardinal Pell "has worked hard to eradicate the evil of sexual abuse from the Church and to show his deep compassion for victims and survivors of sexual abuse not just by words but also by actions".
"Instead of presenting these facts and the outcome of the Southwell Inquiry fairly as it should, the Fairfax press has opted to publish a smear of the most vindictive kind."
