The Tablet December 17, 2020
Australian Cardinal George Pell is pictured at a cafe near the Vatican in Rome Oct. 4, 2020. The High Court of Australia in April unanimously overturned a 2018 jury verdict that had led Cardinal Pell to be imprisoned for 405 days. (Photo: CNS/Franco Origlia)
By Elise Anne Allen
ROME (Crux) At the virtual launch of his new book, Cardinal George Pell opened up about what his time in prison before acquitted of charges of sexual abuse was like, and he also offered an evaluation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s time in office as well as the need for a set of clear rules when a pope retires.
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Rome: Pope Francisâ former treasurer, Australian Cardinal George Pell, has told a virtual book launch press conference that he had no intention of seeking damages from the Australian government for his incarceration and said he intended to split his time between Sydney and the Vatican.
Pell left his job as prefect of the Vaticanâs Economy Ministry in 2017 to face charges that he sexually molested two 13-year-old choir boys in the sacristy of the Melbourne cathedral in 1996. After a first jury deadlocked, a second unanimously convicted him and he was sentenced to six years in prison. The conviction was upheld on appeal only to be thrown out by Australiaâs High Court, which in April unanimously found there was reasonable doubt in the testimony of his lone accuser.
17 Dec 2020
Australian Cardinal George Pell praised President Donald Trump Wednesday, highlighting his “splendid” Supreme Court appointments and participation in the March for Life.
Speaking at a virtual launch of his book
Prison Journal, which chronicles the 404 days he spent in an Australian prison before having his conviction overturned, Cardinal Pell said President Trump is a “controversial fellow,” which isn’t all bad.
As president, he has been “a bit of a barbarian, but in some important ways, he is ‘our’ barbarian,” Pell stated.
In particular, Trump has made a “positive contribution” to Christianity through his three Supreme Court picks, Pell observed.
Australian Cardinal George Pell, 79, has released a new book through Ignatius Press:
Prison Journal, Volume 1: The Cardinal Makes His Appeal. Composed of three volumes, the Cardinal offers daily reflections on his conviction and imprisonment in solitary confinement for the abuse of a minor, as well as reflections on the meaning of suffering in the life of a Christian and the divine command to forgive one’s enemies. Pell maintained his innocence throughout, and after 13 months of confinement, Australia’s high court overturned the conviction on a 7-0 vote and released him from prison.
George Weigel wrote the introduction for
Prison Journal, and served as moderator for a virtual press conference held December 16th. In his introduction of the Cardinal, Weigel opined that
Pope s pandemic year in review: Prayer, online meetings, hopes for change Pope Francis leads a prayer service in an empty St. Peter s Square at the Vatican in this March 27, 2020, file photo. With COVID-19 already a crisis around the globe, the pope s prayer service that night drew the world s attention. (CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool)
Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service 12/15/2020 8:04 AM
select A man wearing a mask in St. Peter s Square takes a photo as Pope Francis appears on a video monitor leading the Angelus from his library in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican in this March 8, 2020, file photo. The next day Italy and the Vatican began a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown that lasted into May. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)