That
was the final verdict, but not before Cardinal George Pell endured a
grueling five years of accusations, trials, conviction, humiliation,
character assassination, and finally more than a year of imprisonment
after being convicted by an Australian appellate court for a crime he
didn’t commit.
Immediately
led off to jail in handcuffs and with shackles binding his ankles
following that trial on March 13, 2019, the Australian prelate began a
six-year prison sentence for “historical sex abuse”. After enduring more
than 13 months in prison, eight of those in solitary confinement, the
original sentence was overturned when Cardinal Pell was vindicated by an
unanimous 7-0 decision rendered by the Australian High Court. His
victory over an extreme travesty of justice was not just personal, but
one for the entire Catholic Church.
Bearing
no ill will to his accuser, judges, prison workers, journalists, and
those harboring and expressing hate for him, the cardinal used his time
in prison as a kind of “extended retreat” and eloquently filled pages with, among other details, his daily activities, personal thoughts, love for his fellow man, and beautiful, moving prayers.
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