The funeral of the Archbishop Emeritus of Melbourne and Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, who died at the age of 81 in Rome, will be officiated this Saturday, January 14, at 11:30 a.m., at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter’s Basilica, by the Dean of the Cardinals of the Holy See, the Italian Giovanni Battista Re.
As reported by the Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Holy See, the Pope will preside over the ‘Ultima Commendatio’ and the ‘Valedictio’, the blessings that precede the burial, at the end of the funeral.
Francis sent a telegram of condolences in which he describes the prelate as a «faithful servant, who unwaveringly followed his Lord with perseverance even in the hour of trial». Pell spent 400 days in prison convicted of sexual abuse of two minors, although he was finally acquitted by the Australian High Court.
«I have learned with sadness the news of the departure of Cardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the secretariat for the economy. I wish to express my closeness to you and to the College of Cardinals, especially to his dear brother David and the other members of his family,» reads the telegram sent to the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
The Pope thus expressed «his deepest condolences,» recalling with gratitude «his consistent and committed witness, his dedication to the Gospel and to the Church, and in particular his diligent cooperation with the Holy See in its recent economic reform, for which he laid the foundations with determination and wisdom.» Francis asked for prayers for Pell that «he may be received into the joy of heaven and receive the reward of eternal peace.»
Appointed by John Paul II bishop of Melbourne (1996-2001) and Sydney (2001-2014), created cardinal (2003) by Benedict XVI, whom he received at World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008, Pell was summoned by Francis to the Roman Curia to be part of the council of cardinals that assisted him in the reform of the Roman Curia. On February 24, 2014, he placed him at the head of the Secretariat for the Economy, where he promoted a reform of Vatican finances.
Among other things, it was he who revealed the existence of opaque funds managed autonomously by the Secretariat of State. Pope Francis decided to place them under the tutelage of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (Apsa).
On June 29, 2017, Australian police confirmed that Cardinal Pell was charged with «serious sexual offenses» against minors, including rape, allegedly committed in the 1970s, when he was a parish priest in Ballarat, his hometown. The Holy See simultaneously confirmed the news of the indictment of Cardinal Pell, who left for Australia to face the charges against him.
On December 11, 2018 Pell was found guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old altar boys by the jury of the Victorian State County Court and on March 13, 2019 he was sentenced to six years in prison. The Australian cardinal, who always declared his innocence, then announced that he had lodged an appeal, which was initially rejected and the conviction was therefore upheld.
Pell entered prison where he spent more than 400 days. In November of that year, in view of the numerous formal and technical defects in the judicial process pointed out by Judge Mark Weinberg, the High Court of Australia allowed Pell’s appeal application to proceed. On April 7, 2020, the cardinal was unanimously acquitted by the same court. The Australian cardinal recounted his experience in the book ‘Diary of an Imprisonment’, published in Italy by Cantagalli.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
