'The sentence that (Pell) had been given and time in prison was one of the most extraordinary in Australian history.'
Former ambassador to the Holy See John McCarthy says Australia is “unlikely” to have a Catholic figure as important as George Pell on the world stage again.But friends say he was known for being compassionate and having a sense of humour.Cardinal George Pell’s death has left a void in Australia’s influence in the Vatican, as those who saw him close-up recalled a complex man who was sharp-witted, surprisingly compassionate, and both admired and hated by many.
“He was Australia’s best known priest and was a world figure. He had credibility of an enormous order in Rome for his integrity in respect to administration and money.” “His response to imprisonment in terms of his spirit as shown by his writings was also extraordinary and full of Christian spirit and love.”
“He was without doubt Australia’s most prominent ever churchman, having provided strong and clear leadership within the Catholic Church in Australia, as Archbishop of Melbourne and Archbishop of Sydney,” he said in comments published by. “As a member of the Bishops Conference for more than 25 years, it will be for historians to assess his impact on the life of the church in Australia and beyond, but it was considerable, and will be long-lasting.
“He was still very influential. His connections are everywhere in Sydney, in Australia and overseas,” Debien said.“I don’t know anybody who made it their business to be in Rome as much as George did. He made it his business to align himself with the bishops around the world and to know them. “If he turned, you didn’t want to be on the wrong side of George because it was a lifetime of misery that you were going to get,” Debien said.
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