Cardinal Pell's Funeral
Clodagh Gallagher writes about her attendance at Cardinal Pell’s funeral in Rome. Please join us in prayer for Cardinal Pell.
By Clodagh Gallagher
St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Cardinal George Pell, a lion of the Church, a stalwart supporter of orthodox Catholic theology, and Australia’s Christian Prince, died suddenly in Rome on 10 January 2023. He was 81 years of age, and died as a result of heart complications following an otherwise successful hip replacement surgery. He had attended the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI just five days prior, and in an interview after the funeral with EWTN, proclaimed the beloved German pontiff as the “complete opposite of the caricatures of his enemies” and “a quiet, gentle, pious man, absolute gentleman.”
Cardinal Pell’s funeral. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
I was reading this interview of his reflections on the life and legacy of Pope Benedict, when I heard the news that he had suddenly passed away. His funeral Mass was to be held in Saint Peter’s Basilica at 11:30am on Saturday the 14th of January, 2023. Having only just unpacked from Pope Benedict’s funeral the week before, I repacked my bags and headed to Rome, to offer thanksgiving and praise to God for the life and works of this Prince of the Church.
My flight was majorly delayed, so I arrived at St. Peter’s Square right before the funeral… to the sight of hundreds of tourists queueing not for the funeral, but to enjoy the Basilica. By the utter grace of God, I met an elderly man who had worked closely with Cardinal Pell who moved me quickly through security and past the entire queue. He heard my Irish accent and came to help because although he was born and raised in Rome, his mother was originally from Ireland – from County Waterford, and a thirty-minute drive from where I grew up, no less. You really can’t go anywhere!
Once we were inside, extra seats had to be brought out because there were more people in attendance at the funeral than had been expected. Seated at the very back with my new friend and about fifty seminarians, I prayed and waited. Shortly after, a procession of cardinals, bishops and a handful of priests made their way through the congregation. The Mass was celebrated in Italian by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, who also celebrated Pope Benedict’s funeral Mass. Pope Francis was present, and led the Final Commendation and Farewell.
In his homily, Cardinal Re shared in the heartbreak of the faithful at Cardinal Pell’s sudden death, and expressed his sorrow at his Australian brother’s “unjust and painful condemnation”, referencing Cardinal Pell’s false conviction for sexual abuse of minors in 2018. He was eventually acquitted and released by the Australian High Court of Justice in the spring of 2020, after wrongfully spending 404 days between two high-security prisons, including a period of isolation. Cardinal Re described it as “an experience of great suffering endured with trust in God’s judgment,” referring to the three spiritual journals that Cardinal Pell wrote while he was imprisoned for a heinous, evil crime that he did not commit. Cardinal Re testified to Cardinal Pell’s unwavering trust in God, constancy in faith, and “way of accepting even unjust punishment with dignity and inner peace.”
Although he did not celebrate the Mass, Pope Francis had already praised the Australian cardinal’s witness, dedication, and faith in a condolence message the day after his death, on 11 January. He recalled “with a grateful heart”, Cardinal Pell’s “consistent and committed witness, his dedication to the Gospel and the Church, and particularly his diligent cooperation with the Holy See in the context of its recent economic reform, of which he laid the foundations with determination and wisdom”.
Present was Archbishop Georg Gänswein, former secretary, friend, and long-time theological collaborator to Benedict XVI - and still prefect of the Papal Household. He has recently published a book detailing behind-the-scenes of Pope Benedict’s papacy, highlighting both the fondness and difficulties between the late Pontiff and his successor.
After the funeral, after the clergy had processed out, the gathered faithful broke out in emotional applause as the coffin containing Cardinal Pell’s body was lifted into the air. Following the path taken by the cardinals and bishops, it moved out of sight of the congregation, many of whom were visibly moved. Arrangements are currently being made for Cardinal Pell’s body to be repatriated to Australia, accompanied by family and friends. His body will lie in state at the cathedral from Wednesday the 1st of February, followed by a pontifical requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday 2 February, celebrated by Archbishop Anthony Fisher. He will be buried in the crypt below Sydney’s Saint Mary Cathedral in a private ceremony.
Farewell to another spiritual giant, and a good man. Pray for us, as we will pray for you.