George Pell was by far the best known and most
polarising church figure in Australia in the
past century, if not for ever. He attended the
funeral of Pope Benedict XVI just over a week ago.

The Cardinal who ran further on the world stage
than any other Australian cleric was loved by and
admired by many traditional and conservative
Catholics and resented by many on the church's
progressive wing.

Cardinal Pell will be remembered as a formidable
defender of traditional Catholicism which meant
that he was portrayed as a monster by some and
as a saint by others.

He will be judged harshly over his handling of
sexual abuse claims and his protection of the
Catholic Church.

The government will arrange to have his body flown to
Sydney for burial.

Should he be given a state funeral?

Dear Foxy,

«Should he be given a state funeral?»

Definitely not - why would you want his corpse to be desecrated by the Australian state, again? Has he not suffered enough?!

Have you checked whether he even wished his body to be buried in Australia after all Australia did to him?

Or is the Australian government planning to kidnap his body from another state against his wishes?

I think he would much more appreciate to be buried in the Vatican among friends!

May he rest in peace and in contrast, do some time among the heavenly angels!

"George Pell was by far the best known and most
polarising church figure in Australia in the
past century, if not for ever."

Do some research on Dr Mannix or read "Power without Glory".

"He will be judged harshly [by some] over his handling of
sexual abuse claims and his protection of the
Catholic Church." There you go, fixed it for you.

The only way Chairman Dan would give him a state funeral is as a final slap in the face for an innocent man utterly mistreated by police, judiciary and political class in his home state.

Innocent? We are all innocent unless proven guilty. He was never proven guilty....QED.

Read his diaries of the 404 days he spent in gaol to see a truly good man who practiced the forgiveness he preached.

Hi Yuyutsu,

A requiem mass will be held for Cardinal Pell in
coming days in St Patrick's Basilica at the Vatican,
after which the Australian Cardinal's body will be brought
to Sydney for a funeral Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral
in Sydney. His remains will be buried in the crypt.

In life, opinions on Australia's most senior Catholic
Cardinal George Pell were polarised.

The reactions to his death have not been any different.
What his legacy is depends on who you talk to. Most
agree, it will be mixed.

The Catholic Archbishops of both Sydney and Melbourne were
quick to mourn the Cardinal. However, not every one has been
complimentary.

A law firm has confirmed it will continue to progress a
civil claim on behalf of the father of a former altar boy
who accused Cardinal Pell of sexual abuse. The lawyers said
that there was still evidence for the claim to rely on
despite not being able to cross examine the Cardinal at any
trial.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is also listed as a
defendant in this matter.

That's news, not opinion.

We don't need to advised of his death, particularly by someone who maintained his guilt in the face of a unanimous High Court judgement - shame on her!

The Catholic Church will never know another priest with such honesty and adherence to the faith.

He is now free of the nastiness and the nasty people who castigated him. If there is a Heaven, George Pell is certainly worthy of a place there.