‘Better appreciated overseas’: Cardinal George Pell’s brother speaks

George Pell’s brother David says the Cardinal ‘didn’t deserve’ the treatment he received in Australia, singling out large parts of the media.

David Pell, the brother of Cardinal George Pell arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne in 2019. Picture: AAP

George Pell’s brother David says his brother “didn’t deserve” the treatment he received in Australia following the child abuse royal commission in 2017 which eventually led to the Cardinal’s conviction.

Cardinal Pell’s brother said he was “terribly saddened” by the sudden death as he expressed his view on the treatment of Cardinal Pell by large parts of the Australian media and public.

“I don’t think he deserved what he got. He was better appreciated overseas than he was here, particularly in Melbourne,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

The commission had found that Pell was aware children were being sexually abused within the Archdiocese of Ballarat by the notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale.

In 2018, Cardinal Pell was found guilty of five charges of child sexual abuse, which were later overturned by the High Court.

The Cardinal had battled intense public scrutiny in Australia at the time, especially when his testimony at a royal commission was delayed because he was too unwell to travel to Australia.

George Pell aged 10, with his sister Margaret and nursing his brother David. The family grew up in Ballarat.

Pell’s body to be brought back to Australia

Anthony Albanese said Cardinal George Pell’s death “will come as a shock to many” as he offered his condolences to those in mourning, particularly people of the Catholic faith.

The Prime Minister said he conveyed his government’s condolences to Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher earlier on Wednesday.

“This will come as a shock to many. This was a hip operation and the consequences of it, unfortunately, have been that Cardinal Pell has lost his life,” Mr Albanese said.

“For many people, particularly of the Catholic faith, this will be a difficult day and I express my condolences to all those who are mourning today.

“Archbishop Fisher informed me that there will be a service held in the Vatican in coming days but then there will be a service at St Mary’s Cathedral (in Sydney) at some time in the future.”

Mr Albanese said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were providing assistance to ensure Cardinal Pell’s body was brought back to Australia, with further announcements to be made in due course.