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Cardinal George Pell says he is "surprised" by a finding by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which claimed he was likely aware of child abuse within the Catholic Church as early as 1973.

The findings were redacted when the final report was handed down by the commission in December 2017 due to legal procedings the Cardinal was facing at the time.

According to the royal commission's findings, it was "implausible" Cardinal Pell was unaware of paedophilia allegations against notorious priest Gerald Ridsdale, as well as the sexual transgressions of other Monsignors in the Church.

In a statement, Cardinal Pell said the royal commission's findings are "not supported by evidence."

"Cardinal Pell said he was surprised by some of the views of the Royal Commission about his actions . These views are not supported by evidence," the statement said.

"He is especially surprised by the statements in the report about the earlier transfers of Gerald Ridsdale discussed by the Ballarat Diocesan Consultors in 1977 and 82. "

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established in 2013 by the Gillard government.

Its findings were made public in December 2017, except the segments pertaining to Cardinal Pell.