It is "impossible" that an alleged sex abuse incident involving Cardinal George Pell occurred at a Melbourne cathedral, his lawyer says.
Pell briefly appeared before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with multiple historical sex offences involving multiple complainants.
His barrister Robert Richter QC said an alleged incident at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral could not have occurred.
"We propose to demonstrate to Your Honour that what was alleged was impossible," he told magistrate Belinda Wallington.
As many as 50 witnesses are expected to be called during a four-week committal hearing beginning on March 5.
Police are seen stranding guard at the entry to the barrister's chambers before Cardinal George Pell arrived (AAP) Source: AAP
The hearing will determine whether the third-most senior Vatican official should stand trial.
"There are an awful lot of witnesses. The prosecution must have a view about why they need so many of them," Mr Richter said.
Friday's 20-minute hearing was mainly a discussion about which witnesses will be cross-examined at the committal hearing.
"For the bulk of the people who are objected to, cross-examination would be short and they are of concern simply because we need to be able to prepare for trial to present the defence," Mr Richter said.
Ms Wallington said there was no need to call four of the witnesses in dispute, but she allowed others to be called.
"We're dealing with historical events. Memory's not static," she added.
"I tend to think it's appropriate to allow people's memories to be further explored."
This is the second time Pell has appeared in court since the 76-year-old was charged in June with multiple historical sex offences.
At his first appearance on July 26, Mr Richter said Pell will plead not guilty to all charges.
The highest-ranking Catholic official to be charged with sexual abuse was on Friday again surrounded by police officers as he made his way to and from court.
A media scrum of about 50 journalists and camera operators followed him as he left court to walk the 100 metres to his barrister's chambers.
He did not react as a protester yelled abuse outside court.
The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop and Ballarat priest has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to be in Australia to defend himself.
