Believed to have sought the perks of an anonymous life in Rome, an Australian 67-year-old Catholic priest is bound to face 10 legal cases of sexual abuse related charges once he gets back home.

A spokeswoman from Australia's local Victoria police said they have been negotiating for the return of the Ascot Vale man from Rome since July 2012.

It was late in 2012 when detectives were able to establish complaints against the Australian Catholic priest, gathered from complaints generated from the Victorian inquiry into child sex abuse. The child sexual abuse cases allegedly happened between 1976 and 1985 in Sunbury and Ferntree Gully.

The priest's return to Victoria is seen as a major a breakthrough in co-operation between Victoria Police and the Catholic Church, the police spokeswoman said.

The Australian Catholic priest presented himself to police at Crime Command Headquarters at St Kilda Rd. he was with his legal representative. He is scheduled to face the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on April 26 on 10 charges, including buggery, indecent assault and common law assault.