Out of consideration for the victims of sexual abuse and their relatives, Australian Cardinal George Pell should not have a state funeral in his home country.

The prime ministers of the states of Victoria and New South Wales, where Pell was archbishop and had lived for many years, ruled out a state funeral on Thursday.

Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said he couldn't imagine "anything more painful" for the victims and their families.

Till Fähnders

Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.

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Pell died on Tuesday in Rome at the age of 81 from hip surgery.

He was the highest Catholic dignitary ever convicted of child molestation.

After more than 400 days in prison, he was acquitted in 2020 and released from prison.

As a former archbishop of Melbourne (Victoria) and Sydney (New South Wales), many relatives and former victims also blame him for the fact that the abuse of others has been covered up for decades.

Body will be transferred soon

A report by an Australian commission of inquiry concluded that Pell was aware of child abuse cases particularly in his native town of Ballarat.

However, he failed to take appropriate action against the accused priests.

Details from the report were not released until after his release.

"Pell's conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court.

But there is a long list of cover-ups and blunders for which Pell is responsible," victim relative and activist Christine Foster told The New Daily.

Foster's daughters were victims of a pedophile priest in Melbourne.

Her husband Anthony Foster was honored with a state funeral in 2017 for his tireless work to help victims of abuse in Victoria.

In federal Australia, most state funerals are hosted by the states.

They are usually used to honor former prime ministers and other high-ranking figures in politics and the military.

In certain cases, however, personalities from sport, culture and other areas of life can also receive a state funeral.

According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Pell's body is to be transferred from Rome to Australia in the next few days.

A requiem mass is to be held at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

The death of the former Vatican finance chief has provoked divided reactions in his native Australia.

The conservative newspaper The Australian called Pell "God's strong man" on its front page on Thursday.

Conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton had previously described Pell as a victim of "political persecution".

Former Conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott saw Pell's trial as a "modern form of crucifixion".

Australia's Social Democrat Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was more reserved.

He had only spoken of a "difficult day" for many Catholics.