Pell’s rival prays for cardinal at solemn St Peter’s mass

Cardinal George Pell’s foremost adversary Cardinal Angelo Becciu was seen at St Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis offered a blessing to the 81-year-old prelate at his ­Requiem Mass.

Pope Francis presides over the funeral mass for Cardinal George Pell in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

Cardinal George Pell’s foremost adversary Cardinal Angelo Becciu was seen seated in the pews at St Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis offered a blessing to the 81-year-old prelate at his ­Requiem Mass on the weekend.

The firebrand cleric, who is on trial for embezzlement and financial fraud, prayed for his rival’s “forgiveness” after the two prelates dramatically clashed over the church’s financial reforms during Cardinal Pell’s term as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.

Their rivalry was fuelled years later after allegations the Italian cardinal transferred money to Australia to support the sex abuse charges against Cardinal Pell.

But in an explosive memo deriding Pope Francis’s handling of the Holy See’s financial fraud investigation, Cardinal Pell appeared to defend his Vatican rival from beyond the grave, despite their longstanding enmity, writing that he and nine other clergy were not ­afforded a fair trial.

The Vatican’s first auditor-general, Libero Milone, who was hired by Cardinal Pell to conduct an audit of the Holy See’s finances, was also at the mass.

The controversial businessman was dismissed from his post two years into a five-year term under dubious circumstances, according to Catholic media outlet Crux, with Mr Milone now attempting to sue the Vatican for $US9.6m ($13.7m) in damages for wrongful termination.

While Cardinal Pell’s final send-off at Sydney’s St Mary’s ­Cathedral is expected to be held in early February, his cousin Chris Meney told The Australian in Rome that the funeral’s organisation would take some time because of the paperwork involved.

Chris Meney, a cousin of Cardinal George Pell. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

The Archbishop of Perth, Tim Costelloe, said finding a suitable date in the diary around a big conference in the South Pacific was also front of mind.

The General Assembly of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania is to be held in Suva on February 5-10.

The archbishop said Saturday’s Vatican service for Cardinal Pell was “one for the cardinals”, describing it as “very simple, dignified, quite beautiful”. He added that the final farewell at St Mary’s would be “for one of ours” with “a similar kind of dignity”. “I don’t think the death of either Pope Benedict or Cardinal Pell will have a major influence on the church beyond the fact that we’ll all recognise we’ve lost two quite extraordinary men,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

Mr Meney, who had travelled to The Vatican with Cardinal Pell’s brother David and other ­extended family members said Saturday’s homily, delivered by Cardinal Baptista Ra and acknow­ledging Cardinal Pell’s toughness, was apt. “I’ve known him (Cardinal Pell) for a number of decades and I’ve seen him go through some pretty difficult times, particularly with reference to when he was charged and went to prison,” Mr Meney said.

David Pell (centre right), brother of Cardinal George Pell, attends the funeral mass for his brother. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

Supporters of Cardinal Pell converged on Domus Australia, the lodging that the cardinal had established for Australians in Rome, for a wake after the funeral.

Cardinal Pell, who had delivered a withering criticism of Pope Francis’s leadership – calling it a “catastrophe” – was blessed by the pontiff during his funeral.

Francis, 86, who was looking increasingly frail, was wheeled in his wheelchair into St Peter’s and assisted to stand before Cardinal Pell’s coffin at the end of the service, when he commended, in Latin, the soul of Cardinal Pell into God’s hands in a prayer for mercy and eternal rest.

The Pope blessed the coffin, and then – as he was wheeled past – Francis touched his own forehead and face.