The Premier says there will be no offer to hold a state memorial for George Pell in Victoria

Daniel Andrews has explained why he didn’t release a statement on George Pell’s death and why the Cardinal won’t be offered a state memorial in Victoria.

A state memorial to commemorate the life of Cardinal George Pell won’t be held in Victoria.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he had received no request for a taxpayer-funded service, but declared no offer will be made.

“I couldn’t think of anything more distressing for victim survivors,” he said.

“These things are usually offered rather than asked for and there will be no offer made.

“There will be no memorial service or state funeral because I think that would be a deeply, deeply distressing thing for every survivor of Catholic Church child sexual abuse. That is my view, and I will not do that.

“We should never forget that predator brothers and priests were systematically moved around, knowingly, as part of a strategy, from one working class parish to the next.

“We should never, ever forget that, and we will never ever forget victim survivors of institutional child sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church.”

Daniel Andrews says having a state memorial for Cardinal George Pell would be ‘distressing for victim survivors’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Andrews said victim survivors remained at the centre of his decision making.

“I always try to be clear about my views and over the journey I think I have been on this particular subject,” he said.

“Today and every day, victim survivors of child sexual abuse at the Catholic Church – and a completely fundamentally inappropriate response to that – that’s what is at the centre of my thinking and the centre of our work.

“Beyond that, of course, we offer our condolences to Mr Pells’ family, friends, and colleagues.”

Mr Andrews, who confirmed he wouldn’t attend the official funeral, said he had met the former cardinal but declined to say what he thought of him.

“I’m not here to provide commentary about individuals. It’s not really appropriate,” he said.

Asked why he didn’t release a statement on Wednesday when Pell’s death was officially announced, Mr Andrews said: “I issue statements when I think it’s appropriate.”

He added that he spoke with Minister Steve Dimopoulos, who held the government’s daily press conference on Wednesday, to make the government’s position clear.

Mr Andrews also refused to respond to comments made by federal opposition Peter Dutton, who said Pell’s conviction was a case of “modern-day political persecution”.

Mr Dutton said “the fact he spent a year in prison for a conviction that the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed should provide some cause for reflection for the Victorian Labor government”.

Mr Andrews responded: “I think there’s absolutely no need for me to dignify his commentary by providing any further response, which is why I’m not.”

“I’m not here to talk about the Liberal Party. They’re completely irrelevant to the work that I do, and I think that was very clearly demonstrated on the 26th of November,” he added.

Pope Francis and Cardinal George Pell at the Vatican in 2015.

Pope to preside over Requiem Mass

Pope Francis is expected to preside over a Requiem Mass for Cardinal George Pell, set down for either Friday or Monday.

The Vatican was on Thursday morning deliberating which date to hold the Requiem Mass, which could take place in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican City.

The Vatican had initial plans to hold the mass for Cardinal Pell on Friday, but this was suspended because of the concern from the Catholic Church in Australia that any attendees from Australia would struggle to make it on time.

Officials are looking to see if it can be scheduled on Monday but nothing has been confirmed.

Francis, 86, would normally conduct the requiem mass for a Cardinal, but because of his own ill health, he is set to undertake a similar role to that he played in the funeral of Emeritus Pope Benedict earlier this month, presiding over the proceedings, a Vatican source told The Australian.

At Benedict’s funeral, Francis delivered the homily, and also gave a deeply personal blessing at the end.

On Thursday Francis sent a telegram of condolence on the death of Cardinal Pell to the dean of the College of Cardinals, His Eminence Giovanni Battista Re.

The telegram expressed Francis’s sincere condolences, saying he learnt “with sorrow” the death of Cardinal Pell, who was a senior member of his team.

“I wish to express my closeness to you and to the College of Cardinals, especially to his dear brother David and the other members of his family,’’ Francis wrote.

“I offer my sincere condolences, remembering with heartfelt gratitude his consistent and committed witness, his dedication to the gospel and to the Church and especially his diligent collaboration with the Holy See in its recent economic reform for which he laid the foundations with determination and wisdom.”

Cardinal George Pell at the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in April. Picture: Getty Images

Cardinal Pell, 81, was the prefect emeritus of the Secretariat for the Economy, when he died on Wednesday from heart complications following hip surgery in a Rome hospital.

Francis had summonsed Cardinal Pell to the Vatican in 2014 to clean up the Vatican finances which had been mired in scandal and corruption.

But Cardinal Pell returned to Australia to face child sexual abuse allegations, for which he was found guilty in the Victorian County Court in December 2018.

However upon appeal in April 2020 the High Court quashed the conviction, ordering his immediate release and he then returned to Vatican soon afterwards.

Francis said on Thursday: “I raise prayers for the repose of this faithful servant who unwaveringly followed his Lord with perseverance even in the hour of trial, that he may be received into the joy of heaven and receive eternal peace. I send my blessing to you, to the family of the late Cardinal and to all who share in the mourning of his passing.”

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott said Cardinal Pell was a “great leader” and he hailed the journals he wrote during his 13 months in prison as “a classic” and showing “a fine man wrestling with a cruel fate and trying to make sense of the unfairness of suffering”.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott praised Pell as a great leader. Picture Martin Ollman

Mr Abbott added: “In his own way, by dealing so equably with a monstrous allegation, he strikes me a saint of our times”.

The President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said Cardinal Pell’s impact will continue to be felt for many years.

“Cardinal Pell’s impact on the life of the Church in Australia and around the world will continue to be felt for many years,’’ he said in a statement.

“As we remember him and reflect on his legacy, I invite all Catholics and other people of goodwill to join in praying for Cardinal Pell, a man of deep and abiding faith, and for the repose of his soul.”

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney delivered a homily during mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and described his predecessor as providing a considerable and long lasting impact on the life of the Church in Australia.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane wrote about Cardinal Pell in The Catholic Reader noting that while he was a polarising figure, he had unusual gifts of leadership: intelligence, courage, conviction, self-confidence, political nous and tenacity among them.