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The story behind Cardinal George Pell

Published

3 years ago

January 11, 2023

Ahron Young

George Pell was an Australian Catholic cardinal who served as the Archbishop of Sydney from 2001 to 2014, and as the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy from 2014 to 2019.

He was convicted in 2018 of sexually abusing two choirboys in 1996 and 1997, and was subsequently sentenced to six years in prison. In April 2020, the High Court of Australia overturned his conviction and acquitted him of the charges. Prior to his conviction, Pell had been the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sexual abuse.

What was George Pell’s role at the Vatican?

George Pell served as the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy at the Vatican from 2014 to 2019. The Secretariat for the Economy is one of the Vatican’s main departments and is responsible for overseeing the administration and management of the Holy See’s financial and economic affairs. As Prefect, Pell was effectively the Vatican’s chief financial officer and had significant authority over the management of the Vatican’s budget and financial operations. He was also a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers, an advisory body to the Pope that was established to help reform the Vatican’s financial and administrative structures.

What happened to cardinal George Pell’s court case?

In December 2018, Cardinal George Pell was convicted of sexually abusing two choirboys in 1996 and 1997, while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne. He was sentenced to six years in prison and was considered a high-profile prisoner. He immediately appealed the conviction, and the case was heard by the Court of Appeals of Victoria, the highest court of the Australian state of Victoria. In August 2019, the court upheld his conviction and his sentence, which means he was to serve at least three years and eight months in prison. However, on April 7, 2020, The High Court of Australia overturned his conviction, and acquit him of the charges. It was determined that the trial jury’s verdicts were unreasonable, thus ending his legal proceedings.

George Pell was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Ballarat is a city located about 110 kilometers (68 miles) northwest of the state capital, Melbourne. It is the third largest city in Victoria and has a rich history of gold mining and is known for its cultural heritage and colonial architecture.

How long did George Pell serve at the Vatican?

George Pell served as the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy at the Vatican from 2014 to 2019. He was appointed to that position by Pope Francis in February 2014, and he held the position for about five years. During his tenure as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, he was involved in major reforms in the Vatican’s financial management and administration, and also played a significant role in shaping Pope Francis’ vision for the Church. He was also member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers, until his returning to Australia to face the sexual abuse charges.

News

Electric vehicles transform last mile delivery market

Australia’s last-mile delivery is rapidly adopting electric vehicles, fueled by green initiatives and insights from expert Joe Sofra.

Published

22 hours ago

October 1, 2025

ticker NEWS

Australia’s last-mile delivery is rapidly adopting electric vehicles, fueled by green initiatives and insights from expert Joe Sofra.

The shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) for last mile delivery is accelerating globally, with Australia expected to see significant growth.

Companies and retailers are increasingly adopting greener solutions, driven by supporting government initiatives.

Joe Sofra from ANC discussed the current state of the last mile EV market.

#ElectricVehicles #Sustainability #LastMileDelivery #Innovation #Australia

News

Trump gives Hamas ultimatum for Gaza peace plan acceptance

Trump gives Hamas deadline to accept Gaza peace plan amid rising pressure from Arab states and ongoing conflict in the region

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2025

Ahron Young

Trump gives Hamas deadline to accept Gaza peace plan amid rising pressure from Arab states and ongoing conflict in the region

In Short:
– Trump gives Hamas three to four days to accept a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan, warning of consequences.
– Hamas calls the plan biased and insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal before considering any agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump has given Hamas three to four days to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, warning of severe consequences if they reject it.The plan, shared by mediators Qatar and Egypt, emerged after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed it during a visit to the White House. Hamas, which was not part of the talks, is expected to review the proposal that calls for disarmament, a previously rejected demand.

Trump stated that support for the plan came from both Israeli and Arab leaders, and he emphasised the need for Hamas to respond promptly. The proposal includes a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and disarmament of Hamas, along with a transitional government.

A Hamas source described the plan as biased towards Israel and containing unacceptable conditions.

The group maintains that a complete Israeli withdrawal is a prerequisite for their agreement to any deal, while they are unwilling to disarm.

Pressure Mounts

Hamas faces significant pressure as foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt have supported the initiative. Turkey’s intelligence head is also set to join discussions in Doha, marking a new level of mediation.

Despite expressing initial support, Netanyahu is cautious about the plan’s implications for Palestinian statehood and faces pressure from his coalition. Public sentiment in Gaza reflects a desire for peace, albeit with scepticism about the sincerity of both Trump and Netanyahu’s commitments.