Ex-politicians have delivered a mix of tributes and criticism of the late Cardinal George Pell.
The former Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and Archbishop of Sydney, died aged 81 from heart complications on Tuesday evening following hip surgery.
His 2018 conviction over molesting two teenage choirboys in 1996 was quashed in a unanimous decision by the High Court in 2020.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said Australia had lost a great son and the church had lost a great leader.
"The Cardinal was a committed defender of Catholic orthodoxy and a staunch advocate for the virtues of western civilisation," Mr Abbott said in a statement on Wednesday.
"As an ecclesiastical and cultural conservative, he attracted praise and blame from all the expected quarters.
"In fact, he was a very pastoral priest who well understood the human stain and was more than capable of empathising with sinners while still counselling against sin."
Mr Abbott said Cardinal Pell's jailing after his conviction, which was dismissed by the High Court, was a "modern form of crucifixion, reputationally at least a kind of living death".
"He strikes me as a saint for our times. Like everyone who knew him, I feel a deep sense of loss but am confident that his reputation will grow and grow and that he will become an inspiration for the ages."
Former treasurer Joe Hockey said he was "immensely saddened" to hear of the unexpected death.
"He was a man of deep faith and great integrity. He was blessed with fortitude, courage, determination and intellect. He was proudly Australian," Mr Hockey said.
Former senator Derryn Hinch and child protection advocate was more scathing of the Catholic leader.
"I wish he had lived for another 10 years of deserved public opprobrium," Mr Hinch tweeted.
Former Liberal cabinet minister Kevin Andrews said the world had lost a "good and great man".
"Despite his unjust travails, he remained optimistic and hope-filled."
