The allegation comes just days before the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney for World Youth Day.

According to last night's ABC Lateline program, Cardinal Pell, the head of the Catholic Church in Australia, gave misleading information to a sexual-abuse victim in 2003.

The victim, Anthony Jones, claimed to have been abused by Catholic priest Terrence Goodall 20 years earlier.

In a letter obtained by the ABC, Cardinal Pell told Mr Jones the allegation had not been substantiated because the Church had not received any other complaints against Goodall.

But another letter from Cardinal Pell, signed the same day and obtained by the ABC, was sent to a second man who also claimed to have been abused by Goodall. In the second letter, Cardinal Pell told the man his complaint had been substantiated.

Mr Jones accused Cardinal Pell of getting it wrong.

''I now hate Catholicism because of what Cardinal Pell has done to me, more so than what Father Goodall did to me,'' he said.

Goodall was later convicted of indecent assault, according to the ABC. The ABC said Cardinal Pell had not responded to a request to appear on Lateline or make a comment.

Cardinal Pell said yesterday the Pope was likely to apologise to victims of sexual abuse during his visit to Australia. The Pope will be in Sydney from July 15 to 20.

AAP