Catholic priest calls on Melbourne worshippers to pray for Cardinal George Pell as third most powerful figure at the Vatican faces historic sex charges

AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail

By Bryant Hevesi For Daily Mail Australia

A Sunday Mass at Melbourne’s most prominent Catholic Church was dominated by discussion about Cardinal George Pell’s historic sexual abuse charges.

About 150 parishioners were in attendance at St Patrick’s Cathedral as the Priest in Residence said the Mass was ‘being offered for Cardinal Pell on his protection’.

Reverend Aurelio Fragapane​ said Cardinal Pell continued to be in their prayers alongside the Catholic Church before asking worshippers to pray, The Age reported.

He later noted during the Mass: ‘As Jesus was unjustly condemned and accused of things – that [also] happens to us’.

‘Perhaps that is a good sign that God has chosen us and considered us worthy to be his disciples that we are able to enter into that sacrifice,’ Reverend Fragapane said.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.