The criticisms of Francisco’s pontificate were exposed this Thursday with the publication of various texts attributed to the cardinal George Pelwho died on Tuesday and was considered a point of reference for the more conservative sector from the Vatican. The Australian became third in the ranks of the Holy See, but then spent 13 months in prison for alleged child abuse, of which he was eventually acquitted.

The “Settimo cielo” portal, managed by the journalist Sandro Magister, revealed that Pell was the author of a document signed with the pseudonym “Demos” (people, in Greek) very critical of Francis and which circulated last spring among the cardinals.

The “memorandum” is divided into two articles: “The Vatican today”, in which he believes that “this pontificate is a disaster in many respects, a catastrophe“, and “The next conclave”, which assures that the College of Cardinals “has weakened with eccentric dates“.

The text has passed from hand to hand among the cardinals, many of whom will be called upon to choose the next pontiff after the death – or resignation – of Francis.

Behind his paternity was Cardinal Pell himself, as well as the Argentine pope entrusted the economic reform of the Holy Seeappointing him prefect of the new Secretariat for the Economy from its foundation, in 2014, until 2019.

Pell’s career was cut short after he was convicted in 2018 in Australia for alleged sexual abuse of two minors in the 90s, but after spending 400 days in prison, he was acquitted Finally.

He died last Tuesday afternoon in Rome from complications of an operation to replace a hip prosthesis.

On the other hand, the British portal “The Spectator”, a point of reference for the conservative Catholic sector, published an article signed by Pell, one day after his death, entitled “The Catholic Church must free itself from this toxic nightmare“.

Thus, the cardinal defines the Synod of Bishops called by Francis to deepen the theme of “synodality” and what the Church of the future should be like, a “toxic nightmare”.

On the other hand, Francis also appears criticized in the book “Nothing but the truth”, written and published by Monsignor Georg Gänswein, personal secretary of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, another point of reference for the more traditionalist sector Inside the Vatican walls.

Who was Pell, his conviction and acquittal

Previously in charge of finances, he was considered number 3 in the Vatican. However, his name became better known in 2018, when he became the highest authority of the Catholic Church. face trial for alleged sexual abuse.

It was in the context of reports of facts recorded in Australia between the 60s and 90s, years in which Pell began his work as a priest and then landed at the archbishopric of Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. The investigation included “multiple” historic allegations of alleged child sexual abuse.

To face that process, which began when Victoria Police filed complaints against him in June 2017, Pope Francis has granted Pell a “leave period“of the office of prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.

At the time, Judge Belinda Wallington found there was enough evidence to open a formal trial for alleged pedophilia. Pell pleaded not guilty instead.

In March 2019 he received a six-year prison sentence for pedophilia against two altar boys in December 1996, who he cornered when they were 13 and were boarders of the prestigious St. Kevin College. The gesture was repeated with one of them a few weeks later.

After spending 13 months in prison, in April 2020 the Supreme Court acquitted him of the five charges of sexual abuse of the two altar boys, for the benefit of the doubt.

In September of that year he returned to the Vatican, where a month later he was received in private audience by the Pope.

“My trial was not a referendum on the Catholic Church or how Australian church authorities have dealt with child abuse in the church. The question was whether I had committed these horrific crimes, and It’s not the case“He said at the time.

Pell has participated in two important conclaves in the recent history of the Catholic Church: in 2005 he was part of the meeting that produced Pope Benedict XVI and eight years later he was in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.

With information from EFE

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