Fr Leonard E Dollentas
In 2019 the world saw Australian Cardinal George Pell in the headlines after the Melbourne County Court found him guilty of sexually abusing two choir boys and was sentenced to six years in prison.
The Cardinal was quiet and serene as people hurled hurtful and insulting words against him, as he was rushed into prison by the police.
In 2020, he was in the headlines again – this time he was being escorted out of prison. He won his High Court appeal on April 7, 2020 and was freed after spending more than a year behind bars. The court unanimously decided that Pell’s conviction for child sex abuse should be overturned. He was wrongly accused of crimes he didn’t commit.
His 404 days in jail helped him even to reinforce his faith. In an interview with the Vatican news agency he said: “Jesus’ teachings are true and bear fruit and give life, it gives you strength and the importance of forgiveness. To forgive is good for peace of heart and peace of mind.”
His stay in jail were very difficult months for the then 79-year-old Cardinal. Back then during the trial, he never imagined he could be declared guilty while innocent and based only on a single testimony against him. He said: “I was quite incredulous initially, because I never believed that would happen and not just my people, but many independent lawyers also told me the case that was referred to the judges was ridiculous, totally implausible in a great cathedral.”
He recounts that he followed the daily prison schedule. He was able to find time of his own to pray, exercise, read and watch TV. He also received around 4000 letters while in prison which, according to him gave him solace. However, with his monthly allowance of 140 dollars which he used to pay his phone bill and the newspaper, he did not have enough money to buy paper, envelopes and stamps to reply to those who wrote to him.
The Cardinal recalled that during those difficult moments he received support from the Archbishop of Sydney, his family as well as Pope Francis and Pope Benedict. Throughout his entire experience, Cardinal Pell didn’t stop hoping that the whole truth that would set him free would come out. During his months in prison he kept a journal, which he has just decided to make public. He admitted that it helped him get through those challenges he had endured. He hopes his journal can help others make sense of suffering.
A number of Australian and international social media sustained their bias against the Cardinal both before and during the trial and appeals. After news about his release from prison circulated, people were more compassionate to the Cardinal.
One ordinary citizen wrote: “Oh my God, I am sincerely sorry that he has endured such underserved unnecessary suffering!” Another person reflected: “Cardinal Pell’s conviction due to a falsely alleged crime he didn’t commit made me think of Christ when he was accused for something he didn’t commit either. As a matter of fact, Christ got on with the trial same as Cardinal Pell went through in this modern age. With obedience to the father, later Christ became victorious saving our lives. Cardinal Pell’s story reminds us of the story of Christ after all. We should pray and ask God for his protection despite the hard battles we fight in our day to day life.”
Cardinal Pell returned to live in Rome on September 30, 2020. He turned 80 years old on Tuesday June 8, 2021, losing his eligibility to vote in a future papal conclave. (Photo: Vatican News Agency)
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