“A lion of the Church” Cardinal George Pell farewelled across the globe

The Catholic Church across the globe has farewelled Australia’s preeminent cleric, Cardinal George Pell AC, who passed away suddenly in early January.

Mourners in Sydney and Rome were joined in prayer by the faithful across the globe, who remembered Cardinal Pell’s staunch support of Catholic orthodoxy and commitment to redress for victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the Church.

Cardinal Pell died in Rome from a cardiac arrest following hip replacement surgery on Tuesday, 10 January 2023. He was 81.

The hip replacement was successful however the Cardinal went into cardiac arrest while talking to an anesthetist in the recovery ward and could not be revived.

He had suffered from a heart condition for a number of years, but friends say he was “well and in good form” prior to the operation.

Cardinal Pell’s death came just a few days after he attended the Requiem

Mass for long-time friend Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

He was initially farewelled at a Requiem Mass in Rome on Saturday, 14 January 2023, attended by Pope Francis, cardinals, bishops, priests, seminarians, religious sisters, colleagues and friends from around the world.

Cardinal Pell’s body had been lying in state at the Church of Santo Stefano degli Abbasini, a small church inside the Vatican. The church was built in 400 and restored in 1479, making it the oldest surviving church in the Vatican.

Ahead of the funeral, a small group of family and friends of the late Cardinal gathered to pray at the church on a cool but brilliantly sunny winter day. Following the prayers, a small portion of red wax was melted on to both ends of the coffin and stamped with the Vatican seal.

The group then processed behind the coffin, the short distance to St Peter's Basilica, where the Requiem Mass took place, beneath the Chair of St Peter in the apse of the Basilica, where Cardinal Pell was ordained to the priesthood on 16 December 1966.

About 500 people had gathered for the Mass and extra chairs were required. The Mass was celebrated by the Dean of College of Cardinals, Card Giovanni Batista Re, who celebrated the Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict XVI just a few days prior.

Pope Francis arrived by wheelchair for the final blessing and met with family privately following the Mass.

A private reception was later held at Domus Australia, a former religious institution bought, restored and renovated by Cardinal George Pell for Australian pilgrims and visitors to Rome.

The Requiem Mass and reception was attended by President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Perth Archbishop Tim Costello; Archdiocese of Sydney Auxiliary Bishop and longtime friend Bishop Danny Meagher; former private secretary and family friend Dr Michael Casey from Sydney.

The Diocese of Broken Bay was represented by former colleagues and friends: Director of Catholic Schools Broken Bay, Danny Casey and Director of Communications, Katrina Lee. Others in attendance included friends, business leaders, academics, writers but also his former Vatican staff and driver who all attended to pay their respects.

Also flying in for the Mass was the President of the IOR or Vatican Bank and good friend, JeanBaptiste de Franssu, and writer and academic George Weigel. Australian Ambassador to Holy See, Chiara Porro, was also in attendance.

A few days later, a memorial Mass for the Cardinal at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara drew more than 200 people, including friends and family of the late cleric.

There was hardly a spare seat, as Vicar General Dr David Ranson presided over the Mass, in place of Bishop Anthony Randazzo who was on leave at the time.

In his homily, Fr David reflected on the “formidable nature” of Cardinal Pell, calling him “a colossus in the Church in Australia and internationally.

“The Cardinal was complex, enigmatic, an unmistakable force, completely at home in the halls of power and equally at home with people living off the street,” he said. “We are unlikely to see another with such an indomitable spirit in our generation.”

“He was in the true sense of the word, a phenomenon: by definition, ‘something (such as an interesting fact or event) that can be observed and studied and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully’ – not least because of a most curious coalescence of features in his character and demeanour that meant he bore the vivid projection of such diverse persons and associations.”

Fr David also reflected on his own personal relationship with Cardinal Pell, who he knew from his time at Tarrawarra Abbey.

“I knew him cooking me breakfast when I would return to the monastery refectory after milking in the dairy,” said Fr David.

Cardinal Pell, then Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, ordained Fr David a deacon, beginning a professional relationship between the two that would often see them cross paths on and off again over several decades in both Melbourne and Sydney.

While many of the faithful gathered in Broken Bay may not have shared a close relationship with the Cardinal, the Mass was a poignant opportunity to reflect on his relentless service to the Church in Australia through several decades, as a priest, bishop and then cardinal.

The Cardinal received his ultimate farewell in a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, 2 February 2023, as thousands of mourners filled St Mary’s Cathedral to overflow, as several hundred looked on from outside.

Former prime ministers, members of parliament, clergy, bishops from across Australia and friends of the late Cardinal, joined the thousands of mourners in farewelling the former

Archbishop of Sydney, who rose far beyond any other Australian cleric before him.

As the faithful gathered inside the Cathedral, the hundreds outside joined together in praying the rosary for the late Cardinal.

Most Rev Anthony Randazzo DD JCL, Bishop of Broken Bay, and Very Rev Dr David Ranson, Vicar General of Broken Bay, and Bishop Emeritus David Walker, were among the more than two hundred clergymen who processed into the Cathedral to concelebrate the Mass.

They were joined by Broken Bay’s seminarians, including Shayne D’Cunha, who was the crozier bearer for the Mass, and Matthew French, who was among the pallbearers.

Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop of Sydney, received rapturous applause from the crowd gathered outside before he entered the Cathedral, as he thanked them for their attendance.

After processing inside, Archbishop Fisher welcomed the mourners to the Mass, reflecting briefly on the life of the Cardinal, highlighting the achievements of his long ecclesiastical career.

The readings were done by Georgina Pell, the late Cardinal’s niece, and Dr Michael Casey, his former private secretary for more than a decade.

Archbishop Fisher’s homily focused on Pell’s determination, calling him a “lion of the Church” who proclaimed the Gospel shamelessly, vehemently and courageously to the end – despite false and consistent attacks. He said he was a “giant of a man with a big vision”, highlighting his dedication to growing the Church in Australia through new seminaries, educational institutes, and World Youth Day 2008.

Following his homily, the prayers of the faithful were read by close friends and family, including Director of Catholic Schools Broken Bay, Danny Casey, and Director of Communication, Katrina Lee.

Cardinal Pell’s brother David gave the principal eulogy, speaking about his late brother’s 404 days in isolation in prison before the High Court quashed his conviction 7-0, and the toll it has taken on many in the family. He also highlighted his brother’s love for Australia, even when that love was not always reciprocated.

In his eulogy, former prime minister Tony Abbott called Pell “a saint for our times”, highlighting the role he had played in punishing misbehaving clergy and seeking redress for victims.

The eulogies of both men were punctuated by moments of applause from those both inside and outside the Cathedral, as they praised the accomplishments of Australia’s preeminent cleric.

Following the Mass, the Cardinal’s casket was taken to the Cathedral Crypt, where he was buried in a private ceremony attended by clergy, close friends, and relatives.

Despite his passing, his legacy looms large for many Catholics and his impact on the Church in Australia is likely to last for many generations to come.