Cardinal George Pell of Australia died Tuesday evening at the age of 81.
The cardinal underwent a hip replacement surgery on Tuesday, several sources told The Pillar, and reportedly died of complications from the surgery at approximately 8:50 p.m. in Rome.
The hip operation was initially deemed a success, with sources close to the cardinal saying that he had been able to make conversation with nurses in his recovery room, before he suddenly went into cardiac arrest shortly before he died.
Pell was appointed in 2014 the first prefect of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy, charged with implementing a program of financial reform in the Vatican. He was before that the Archbishop of Sydney, and had been before that Archbishop of Melbourne.
Pell was in 2018 convicted in Australia of committing sexual abuse during his time in Melbourne, but the conviction was in 2020 overturned by the High Court of Australia, after the cardinal spent nearly two years in prison.
But even while he faced criticism, Pell was regarded by many as one of the 20th century’s central figures in Australian Catholicism. He was regarded as a defender of orthodox Catholic doctrine, and an articulate spokesman for the evangelical and social mission of the Church….
Full story at The Pillar.
Watch Cardinal Pell interview on Pope Benedict.
Eternal rest grant unto Cardinal Pell, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
This is tragic. But, I’d feel better if he had died somewhere other than Rome, where he was known for investigating Vatican corruption. Will there be an autopsy?
Rome does have a terrific hospital called the “Gemelli” But if the Cardinal was ‘sent to the Perifery” for solidarity purposes, of course, the outcome would have been less than stellar.
OMG, you’re insinuating Pope Francis orchestrated Cardinal Pell’s murder?
Not at all. But, as you likely know, there are or were several corrupt Vatican officials. The Vatican itself indicted ten of them and others have been indicted by the secular government. I do not think Pope Francis is involved. But, look at history, some at the Vatican have orchestrated deaths of opponents. Cardinal Pell knew more about Vatican corruption than almost anyone else, at least of those willing to speak about it and call for further investigation. Why not have an autopsy, maybe even for the sake of medical advancement? If there’s nothing to hide…
See below about one example of corrupt Vatican officials:
https://www.npr.org/2021/07/03/1012857405/vatican-cardinal-indictment-london-real-estate-deal-embezzlement#:~:text=Pope%20Francis%20Issues%20Orders%20Aimed,who%20handled%20the%20London%20investment.
All that “Curious” is presenting here are insinuations, suggestions, without merit, without substance.
jon,
The indictments are not insinuations without substance. Are you accusing the Vatican itself of wrongly indicting its corrupt officials?
NPR is not some right-wing conspiracy organization. They’re simply reporting what the Vatican did in issuing indictments.
Are you a history denier and think that none in the Vatican ever orchestrated the deaths of opponents?
Several good history books can confirm that.
Another thing is: the Cardinal has not even been buried yet and here you are already politicizing his death, insinuating something sinister by “Vatican officials.” Very low class and distasteful. Reminds me of leftist ideologies who politicize everything including deaths of people even before their funeral. You have no proof of anything, but only intrigue and insinuations. Shameful.
God does not like this.
To ascribe “God” to yourself is dangerous and blasphemous.
The Lord is God, not you or me.
The Lord has been very clear on his exacting standards, even calling Himself “The Truth”.
One of the 10 commandments is not to bear false witness.
just checked. Cardinal Pell was at ‘ospedale Gemmelli” when he died.. after-care can be the clincher. Some Italian websites are wondering as you do.If therea are no family members to consult, his l ife-death decisions were in other hands.
May the soul of Cardinal Pell and all the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.