"Various sources in Rome and Australia told America that the cardinal has been like a lightning rod for discontent and has been a controversial and somewhat unpopular figure in Australia for a long time. They believe that some of the accusations against him are motivated by dislike and anger with the church and that he is so identified with the church in Australia that the vitriol that existed at the moment is often vented in an almost vicarious response. These sources also agree that given the widespread and justifiable anger over the sexual abuse of children and minors...it would be fair to say that the public want scalps, and the cardinal’s would be the biggest and most high profile one. For many people, it is the one they are after. This climate, of course, raises the crucial question as to whether he can be given a fair trial."

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/06/29/cardinal-pell-professes-innocence-sex-abuse-charges