Commission chairman Justice Peter McClellan said he received a letter from Cardinal Pell on Tuesday night stating he would fully co-operate with the commission.

“Without wanting to pre-empt the royal commission in any way – you can’t just invite yourself to give evidence – I want to make it absolutely clear that I am willing to give evidence should the commission request this, be it by statement, appearance by video link or by attending personally,” Cardinal Pell said.

He also said it was important to restate his “strong personal commitment” to co-operating with the commission, in light of the speculation about his willingness to give evidence.

“Like everyone else, I am horrified by the accounts that survivors have given in their evidence during the Ballarat hearings, and at the enormous impact the abuse has had on them, their families and the community.

“I am also deeply saddened by the way church authorities have failed in responding to these crimes.

“So far, I have not been asked to give evidence in any form, but, as I have said repeatedly, I am deeply committed to assisting the royal commission and to doing anything I can to help survivors. This includes giving evidence in person, if asked to do so.”

At last week’s commission hearings, David Ridsdale, nephew of disgraced priest Gerald Ridsdale, said Cardinal Pell tried to bribe him not to bring abuse charges against his uncle in 1993.

Timothy Green also gave evidence he told Cardinal Pell that former Christian Brother Edward Dowlan was abusing boys at St Patrick’s College, when he was at Eureka Swimming Pool in the early 1970s but was told “don’t be ridiculous”.

Cardinal Pell issued a statement last week saying his recollections of both incidents were very different.

Cardinal Pell testified at the Victorian government inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations in 2013.

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au