Hundreds of mourners have packed into Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral for the funeral of Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal George Pell.
Meanwhile, LGBT groups, as well as survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters staged a protest in Hyde Park against the funeral, opposite the cathedral.
Hundreds of Pell supporters braved the summer heat to gather in the cathedral forecourt and watch the funeral service streamed on large screens.
They sang hymns and recited the Hail Mary prayer, with many holding rosary beads, before falling silent as the bells of the cathedral rang out.
Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, led the Pontifical Requiem mass and paid tribute to the late cardinal whom he called "our beloved former Archbishop".
"Some of us were blessed to call him our friend, all of us (called him) our father in faith, and so we mourn his passing," Archbishop Fisher said.
"But he was confident, as we should be, that by God's grace we will all meet ... in heaven.
"We pray that this giant of the Catholic Church in Australia, that the angels receive his soul and present him to God the most high."
Archbishop Fisher also referred to the historic child sexual abuse charges laid against Cardinal Pell by Victorian Police in 2017 as a "media, police and political campaign".
"Even after he was unanimously exonerated by the High Court of Australia, some continued to demonise him," Archbishop Fisher told the service.
"But many appreciate the legacy of this most influential churchman in our nation's history."
Archbishop Fisher finished the mass by saying it was Cardinal Pell's "last farewell".
Cardinal Pell's coffin was draped in white cloth with gold embroidery, with a gold bible and his white bishop's mitre, or ceremonial headdress, placed on top.
Members of Sydney's Catholic community have told ABC News they attended the funeral to pay their respects to Cardinal Pell, who served as the Archbishop of Sydney from 2001-2014.
"We're here acknowledging George Pell as a hero of the Catholic Church," one man said.
"I think it's a great privilege for us to give our appreciation of the extraordinary work the cardinal did," another man said.
Former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard attended the funeral mass, along with federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope.
Broadcaster Alan Jones and Senator Matt Canavan, who have been vocal supporters of Cardinal Pell, were also in attendance.
South Australian Senator Don Farrell attended on behalf of the federal government.
But several senior political leaders chose not to attend the funeral.
Governor General David Hurley, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns all confirmed they would not be at the service.
Sydney woman Mairead, was among the mourners attending Thursday's funeral service.
She said Cardinal Pell was a close friend of her family.
"I'm here in support of him and very happy and very proud to be here," she said.
"There will probably be thousands (of mourners) here which is a testament to his character."
Another woman who was carrying flowers and dressed in black lace said Australia's Catholic community had lost its figurehead.
"We're all very sad, we have essentially all lost a father," she said.
"As Catholics it's our Christian duty to pray for the deceased."
"We're very sad but we're also very joyous because as Catholics we know this life is transient," she said.
"We're all passing through and we all are preparing for the next life, which is eternity with our creator, our heavenly Father."
LGBT groups, as well as survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters staged a protest in Hyde Park, opposite St Mary's Cathedral.
They protested Cardinal Pell's conservative views on LGBT rights and other social issues and chanted "Pell, go to hell".
They are protested Mr Dutton's attendance at the funeral.
At one point, the protesters clashed with mourners as the group neared the cathedral's forecourt, while one man was arrested en-route.
The sound of the protesters drowned out the funeral service for about 10 minutes for those watching in the courtyard, before a group of men yelled that they should be moved on.
Catherine Addington joined the protesters on Thursday, saying she felt "sad, angry and outraged".
"If Jesus was here today, he'd be over there with the rainbow people, he would not be (in the cathedral) with the hypocrites honouring a man with a very, very concerning legacy," she said.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said it expected about 2,000 people to attend the funeral.
Cardinal Pell will be buried in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral in a private service later on Thursday.
He is survived by his brother David, and his family.
