I do not see what is happening with Card. Pell as "a sign of the progress the Catholic Church has made in addressing the abuse of children by clergy."  Pell being accused by civil authorities is, rather, a sign that the civil legal institutions are no longer bowing to the supposition that religious leaders are somehow immune from sexual misbehavior.

Maybe it is an improvement made by the Church that they did not automatically give Pell sanctuary as they did Law of Boston.  But Francis elevated him to a high position in the Vatican after it was known how he had treated abuse victim/survivors and after he claimed total ignorance of any sex abuse occurring in areas where sex abuse was rampant.  

And, yes, there is better safety in some places, thanks to vigorous exposure of abuse by organization like SNAP and a relentless media exposure.  Francis has no "zero tolerance" and he has not made changes in Canon Law that are needed

Maybe getting rid of Muller opens up possibilities.  Maybe.