Cardinal George Pell’s funeral to be held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney

A date has been set for George Pell’s Melbourne memorial as a close friend described the Cardinal as a “really important mentor”.

Cardinal George Pell died following complications from hip surgery. Picture: Robert Duncan

George Pell will be remembered with a memorial mass in Melbourne the day after he is laid to rest in Sydney.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has confirmed the memorial mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Peter Comensoli on February 3 at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Pell was Archbishop of Melbourne between 1996 and 2001.

Archbishop Comensoli, a close friend of Pell’s, has described the Cardinal as a “really important mentor”.

“He has been a forthright defender of the faith,” Comensoli said after Pell’s death last week.

“A great Gospel man. There has not probably been a church man in Australia like the Cardinal.”

Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli. Picture: William West

Pell’s funeral will be held in Sydney on February 2, the Sydney Catholic Archdiocese previously announced.

Pell, 81, died unexpectedly last week following complications from a routine hip surgery.

On Saturday Pope Francis participated in a funeral mass at the Vatican, attended by Pell’s family and friends as well as members of the Catholic leadership from around the world.

Arrangements are being made for his body to be returned to Australia for the service at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday, February 2.

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher will lead the mass at 11am before Pell is buried in the crypt of St Mary’s.

The cardinal will lie in state at the cathedral from the morning of Wednesday, February 1, Sydney’s Catholic Archdiocese said in a statement.

St Mary’s Cathedral dean, Father Don Richardson, said thousands of mourners were expected to attend the mass.

“Cardinal Pell left a remarkable legacy for the Catholic church in Australia and this will undoubtedly be one of the most significant funerals ever held at the cathedral,” he said.

He said screens would be erected in the cathedral forecourt to accommodate crowds.

Australia’s most high profile and influential churchman, Pell was the only Catholic to ever hold the position of archbishops in two dioceses, Melbourne and Sydney.

Pope Francis at the funeral mass for Cardinal George Pell at Altar of the Chair of St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

His 13 years as Sydney Archbishop, between 2001 and 2014, also eclipsed his five years in charge of the Melbourne diocese.

Both Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, and his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet, decided against offering Pell’s family a state funeral.

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher told Sky’s Bolt Report this week he wasn’t surprised by the decision.

“For some reason, in this country over many decades now, we’ve had state funerals for footballers, dress designers, horse trainers, all sorts,” he said.

“I suspect those advising our Premiers told them ‘it’s just not going to happen’.

“The way it was announced, it seemed to be trying to get on the bandwagon of criticism of Cardinal Pell.

“It’s failed to recognise that he is the most prominent churchman that this country has ever produced, and certainly the most influential.

“In the end the church will give him his funeral, and it will be a beautiful funeral, I’m sure of that.”

Archbishop Fisher said there had never been a state funeral for a religious leader in Australian history.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher described Pell as one of Australia’s most prominent churchmen. Picture: Chris Pavlich

In 2003 the Bracks Government offered a state funeral for prominent Melbourne priest and Pentridge Prison chaplain Fr John Brosnan.

It was the first state funeral for a Catholic priest in Victoria.

Father Brosnan became famous as chaplain to Ronald Ryan, who in 1967 was the last Victorian to be hanged.

Ryan’s last words to the priest were: “Never forget, no matter how long you live, you were ordained for me.”

A passionate Geelong supporter Father Brosnan worked for the rights of prisoners, especially those leaving the prison system.

He was Chaplain at Pentridge Prison for 40 years and was influential in political circles.

He was often quoted as saying his three ideals were to find people exiting prison “a home, a job and a friend” adding that the hardest thing to find them was a friend.

Cardinal Pell’s body is due to be repatriated to Australia and will be buried below St Mary’s Cathedral.

Comment has been sought from both the Archdiocese of Sydney and DFAT.