Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is making arrangements to have the remains of Cardinal George Pell returned to Australia.
He said a service would be held at St Mary’s Cathedral at a future date.
Look back on Wednesday's updates.
Key events
Live updates
Stay up to date with the latest news and analysis
By Bridget Judd
This is where we'll have to leave today's live coverage, but thanks for following along.
You can catch up on Wednesday's developments below, or download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest news.
You can also read more about the response to Cardinal Pell's death in this article by Greta Stonehouse and Bridget Murphy.
Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli pays tribute to a 'great gospel man'
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli says Cardinal Pell was "one of the great church men of Australia, and internationally" and a "forthright defender of the faith".
George Pell's body will be repatriated to Sydney
By Bridget Judd
St Mary’s Cathedral has confirmed the body of Cardinal George Pell will be repatriated to Sydney to be laid at rest in the church Crypt.
His body will join seven other archbishops who are also buried there.
A timeline for the burial has not yet been confirmed.
George Pell's death will be felt 'by Catholics around the world'
By Bridget Judd
In a statement, Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the nation has lost "an important intellectual figure and a towering presence in the Catholic community".
Australia received the news this morning of the passing of Cardinal George Pell DD AC.
The son of a Ballarat publican, the Oxford-educated George Pell was a man of immense erudition and faith.
Our nation has lost an important intellectual figure and a towering presence in the Catholic community.
His death will be felt in the Vatican and by Catholics around the world.
Former senator Derryn Hinch says Cardinal Pell should not be given a state funeral
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Former senator and child protection advocate Derryn Hinch has been a longtime critic of the Catholic Church's response to institutional abuse.
"I've long said that all history owes the dead is the truth," Mr Hinch says.
"And it's never been more applicable than today with the death of George Pell."
While a state funeral has not been offered, Mr Hinch says "I just hope the state of Victoria does not give him a state funeral".
John Howard remembers 'strong and determined religious leader'
By Bridget Judd
Former prime minister John Howard has released a statement on the death of George Pell:
The death of George Cardinal Pell in Rome has taken from us a person of enormous influence, not only in the Catholic Church, but in the nation more generally.
He was a strong and determined religious leader. His episcopal motto was ‘be not afraid’. In the senior roles he held in the Church, he displayed consistent courage in expressing Christian views in the public space. Believers and non-believers alike were left in no doubt where George Pell stood on issues.
His deep and compassionate faith sustained him during more than 400 days in prison for alleged crimes which many, me included, believed should never have been the subject of charges. Cardinal Pell’s trust in Australia’s justice system was vindicated when the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed his conviction.
A great sports lover, having been an accomplished Australian Rules player, he then embraced the more widely played Rugby codes in Sydney. Until recent years he and his late sister were regulars during the traditional New Year Cricket Test in Sydney. We often spent time together at the cricket discussing all manner of issues.
I liked and respected the late Cardinal a lot. His passing is a great loss to the intellectual and spiritual life of our country.
Ballarat clergy abuse survivor 'relieved' at the end of a chapter
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Child sexual abuse survivor Philip Nagle says he's "not shedding a tear at all" after hearing the news.
"[I'm] probably relieved that it brings that chapter to an end," he says.
Mr Nagle is a Ballarat man who has been a staunch advocate for survivors of institutional abuse.
He says despite the royal commission — which found Cardinal Pell knew of sexual abuse within the clergy but did not take adequate action to address it — Cardinal Pell "defended and denied".
"He could have done some good and tried to right some wrongs, but instead he just defended the brand," he says.
Australian Catholic University pays tribute to George Pell
By Bridget Judd
In a statement, the university said Cardinal Pell was "fundamentally involved" in its establishment.
“From the time of its inception, Cardinal Pell maintained a deep and abiding interest in ACU," said ACU Chancellor, the Honourable Martin Daubney AM KC.
"The Church and its institutions in Australia and abroad are indebted to Cardinal Pell for his leadership and contribution to our community. His death will be felt by many in the Australian church and the wider community.
"We join with all people of faith in praying for the repose of his soul.”
'There is a great divide between the church ... and ordinary Catholics'
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Francis Sullivan, former chief executive of the Church's Truth, Healing and Justice Council and chair of Concerned Catholics, gives his condolences to George Pell's loved ones.
Speaking to ABC News, Mr Sullivan says Cardinal Pell was "a very influential figure for decades" within the Catholic Church.
He says that the church has "gone backwards", with Australians leaving the faith in huge numbers.
"There is a great divide between the church, as expressed through the official positions of the church, and how ordinary Catholics want to live their lives in heartfelt and with good intention," he says.
"There is a continued divide going on between the clerical church and the rest of us.
"And unfortunately, many of the archbishops, and Cardinal Pell included, need to carry responsibility for that."
George Pell was a 'very complicated figure', former religion editor says
By Bridget Judd
Reporting by Brendan Arrow and Wing Kuang
Barney Zwartz, a senior fellow with the Centre for Public Christianity and the former religion editor for The Age, has described Cardinal Pell as “indestructible”.
“He was a very complicated figure,” Mr Zwartz told ABC NewsRadio.
“His legacy in the church in Australia is that he was a very strong conservative Catholic, a very traditional Catholic, almost a pre-Vatican Catholic too.”
Mr Zwartz said Cardinal Pell “didn’t work well” with the progressive in the church, yet his legacy would continue in both Australia and overseas.
“He showed both courage and integrity in that role, but when it comes to the negative side, he was also very harsh and cruel,” Mr Zwartz said.
A look back at George Pell's life
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Clergy abuse survivor urges others to 'stay strong'
By Bridget Judd
Reporting by Laura Mayers in Ballarat
A clergy abuse survivor who started a petition to have Cardinal George Pell defrocked in 2020 says the news of Pell’s death will bring mixed emotions for survivors.
Paul Levey was subjected to abuse by convicted paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale.
“I sort of didn’t know what was going on [this morning]… my phone started ringing, [I was] getting messages,” Mr Levey says.
“And then I read messages from a lot of other survivors… little bits of celebrations are going on in the survivor community.”
Mr Levey’s petition garnered over 30,000 signatures, with other survivors of abuse calling for the Cardinal to have his high status in the church stripped.
The now Melbourne-based man says the Royal Commission into Institutional Abuse didn't go as far as it needed to.
“I went from the start to the end, I went to Rome, I don’t believe [Pell] was pushed as much into a corner as much as he should’ve been,” Mr Levey said.
“And there were no real apologies… It just all seemed like a matter-of-fact type thing, let’s get it done and out of the way.”
Mr Levey says survivors will need support today.
“Stay strong. Keep fighting for what is right for you,” he said.
“Back when I first started [speaking out] there wasn’t a lot of support. Especially for men. But now it’s out there. Reach out, grab it.”
Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher says Cardinal Pell was a 'great servant of God'
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Archbishop Fisher begins today's Mass at St Mary's Cathedral with Bible verse 19:25, containing the line "I know my redeemer lives".
He says the news of Cardinal Pell's death was met with great shock in Sydney.
Archbishop Fisher says he is consoled by the fact he met Cardinal Pell several times in Rome last week, when he was in Italy for the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI.
"He was, without doubt, Australia's most prominent ever church member," Archbishop Fisher says of his predecessor.
He says Cardinal Pell was a "great servant of God" who provided "strong and clear leadership within the Catholic Church in Australia" when he was archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney.
He says Cardinal Pell's impact will be "considerable and long-lasting".
After a requiem at the Vatican, Cardinal Pell's body will be laid to rest at the St Mary's crypt.
Cardinal Pell's 'strong influence' over Church leaves legacy in Australia
By Bridget Judd
Reporting by Dan Oakes
Francis Sullivan, former chief executive of the Church's Truth, Healing and Justice Council and chair of Concerned Catholics, said Cardinal Pell was an "ideological warrior" who had, by any measure, left the Church diminished in Australia.
"He was a very strong presence in the Catholic Church in Australia for many decades, had a strong influence over bishops, over the appointment of bishops," Mr Sullivan said.
"He intimidated individuals, who bowed to his direction, and this demonstrates the end of an era in which the Catholic Church in Australia has seen a rapid decline in participation and interest and influence."
Mr Sullivan said Cardinal Pell and other senior Catholic clergymen would be judged harshly over their handling of sexual abuse claims against priests.
"I think all the bishops in Australia need to take a good hard look at the mishandling of child sexual abuse over the decades, and even now their lack of resolve in really addressing the problem at its heart."
Catholic world pays tribute to George Pell
By Bridget Judd
The Catholic world is paying tribute to Cardinal George Pell after the 81-year-old died following complications from hip surgery.
Bishop of Ballarat says those who knew George Pell 'thinking of him in prayer'
By Bridget Judd
Reporting by Laura Mayers in Ballarat
Ballarat Bishop Paul Bird says his thoughts are with the central and south-west Victorian community today.
“I was surprised and shocked to hear the news, because I had just seen him on television during the mass at Christmas, from Rome,” Bishop Bird said.
“I imagine particularly those priests and parishioners who knew him during his time at Ballarat, they would be taking the news personally, and thinking of him in prayer.”
Bishop Bird said he hopes victim-survivors and advocates "are able to remember… the practical help he did offer people".
“Whatever the views out there about Cardinal Pell, I think he in fact had a deep sympathy and empathy for those who suffered [abuse],”
Taking care of yourself (or a loved one) when sexual abuse makes the headlines
By Yara Murray-Atfield
There will be lots of discussion — directly and indirectly — about childhood sexual abuse today.
It can be a confronting time for survivors.
ABC Everyday's Grace Jennings-Edquist and Sana Qada wrote this article in 2019, and it's worth a read if today's news has been difficult for you or loved ones.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- beyondblue on 1300 224 636
- Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- QLife on 1800 184 527
- 1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732
- Sexual Assault Counselling Australia: 1800 211 028
- Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors): 1800 272 831
- Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817
Responses to historical abuse in church 'seen as pretty ruthless', historian says
By Bridget Judd
Reporting from Dan Oakes
Catholic commentator and church historian Paul Collins said Cardinal Pell was a good financial administrator and sought to promote financial accountability within the Church, but that he would be judged harshly over his handling of sexual abuse claims.
"I have to say that I think his handling of the sexual abuse cases was very inept, to put it mildly," he said.
"The church had come to some realisation in the earlier part of the century that it had to do something about the scourge of sexual abuse.
"And the bishops … had really tried to set up that process to deal pastorally with sexual abuse.
"Unfortunately, Cardinal Pell, as Archbishop of Melbourne, did in a way rush in and set up his own response.
"I think that most people would say that that response was to limit the liability of the church. And in that I think, at least that perception, led to him being seen as pretty ruthless, when it came to looking after people who had been extremely badly abused by the church."
There are different views on George Pell's legacy
By Bridget Judd
The Pillar's JD Flynn discusses the Catholic community's perception of the late cleric.
How George Pell rose from country Victoria to become Australia's most senior Catholic
By Yara Murray-Atfield
George Pell was born in the Victorian city of Ballarat in 1941 and excelled as a sportsman in his youth, playing for Richmond in the VFL Reserves as a teenager.
Ultimately his ambition lay not on the sporting field, but in the priesthood.
From a humble upbringing in country Victoria, Pell rose to become Australia's highest-ranking Catholic and a key advisor to the Pope Francis, while attracting criticism at home over his handling of church abuse scandals.
Read more about his life here.
