Author and veteran journalist Tess Livingstone offers Our Sunday Visitor readers a behind-the-scenes look at her new biography, “George Cardinal Pell: Pax Invictis” (Ignatius Press, $29.95), the first comprehensive account of the life and legacy of the late Australian prelate. Known for her incisive reporting on politics, economics and the culture wars, Livingstone traces Cardinal Pell’s remarkable journey from his childhood in Australia to his pivotal role as Vatican treasurer, detailing his courageous stand for justice during his wrongful imprisonment and his transformative contributions to the Catholic Church.
Honest and unflinching, the new book shares the cardinal’s vision for revitalizing Catholic education, his leadership in World Youth Day 2008, and his indomitable faith in the face of controversy and adversity.
Our Sunday Visitor: What new or surprising aspects of Cardinal Pell’s life and ministry did you uncover during your research that you think readers will find most compelling?
Tess Livingstone: I was surprised by how thoroughly and quickly he got to grips with the demands of international finance when he became Vatican treasurer. Up to that point, all of his studies had been in philosophy, theology and education. But he found himself fascinated by the coverage of major economic issues in newspapers such as The Financial Times. He also maintained all of his other interests, however, and enjoyed being at the center of things in Rome.
Our Sunday Visitor: Cardinal Pell’s story is deeply tied to resilience in the face of adversity. How does your book address the intersection of his faith and the challenges he endured, both personally and publicly?
Livingstone: Cardinal Pell was an optimist by nature and while the thought of dying in jail disturbed him, his fighting spirit kicked in and he was determined to clear his name. His faith never wavered, even when he wondered why Our Lord had given him this particular cross. He offered his suffering up for the victims of abuse and for the good of the Church.
Our Sunday Visitor: What do you believe Cardinal Pell’s experience teaches us about the relationship between justice and faith in today’s world?
Livingstone: As he often said, many people have to wait until the next life for the scales of justice to balance out. Faith, unfortunately, can provoke intense hostility in the modern world, but believers and Christ and his Church should never back down from their well-informed positions.
Our Sunday Visitor: Cardinal Pell was a significant figure not just in Australia but also within the global Catholic Church. How does your book explore his influence on global Church policies and practices?
Livingstone: Very extensively. Firstly, there is a chapter devoted to his work running the Catholic aid agency, Caritas, for nine years when he was an auxiliary bishop. He also visited China several times, where he was in contact with the underground Church and the state-sanctioned Patriotic Association. He later served on several Vatican congregations, and he was a popular and widely respected lecturer at special events in the U.S. and Europe. And finally, of course, his very challenging role as Prefect for the Economy.
Our Sunday Visitor: Beyond his many leadership roles in the Church, what personal traits or anecdotes about Cardinal Pell do you think reveal the man “behind the mitre”?
Livingstone: He was a great friend, with a great sense of humour, and absolutely enjoyed life to the full. His reading habits say a lot about him. He liked to have three books on the go at any one time — a religious work, a serious political or nonfiction book and a spy thriller.
Our Sunday Visitor: How does Cardinal Pell’s life reflect the cultural and spiritual challenges the Church faces in modern secular societies like Australia?
Livingstone: Two of the main priorities are passing on the faith to young people and drawing vocations to the priesthood. They were two of his major priorities. He overhauled two major seminaries and increased student numbers from very low bases. He created new religious textbooks for schools, established several Catholic universities and was an active participant in World Youth Days, leading groups of several hundred young Australian pilgrims to Rome, Cologne and South America.
Our Sunday Visitor: Cardinal Pell remains a polarizing figure for many. How do you address the contrasting perspectives on his legacy in your book?
Livingstone: I cover the times he drew strong support, such as World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. But I also cover his very controversial arguments relating to his scepticism about climate change.
Our Sunday Visitor: Were there specific spiritual disciplines or devotions that Cardinal Pell relied on during his imprisonment that you found particularly moving or inspiring?
Livingstone: He missed offering Mass enormously. But the Rosary and the Office were enormously important. His memories of the writings of various saints and their lives also comforted him, as reflected in his prison journals.
Our Sunday Visitor: As an author, what were the most challenging and rewarding aspects of writing about such a complex and influential figure?
Livingstone: Deciding what to leave out was quite a challenge. There were so many aspects to his life. I feel very happy when people say they feel they know more about him after reading the book. While writing it, I missed him and his sister, Margaret, who died about a year before he did, very much.
Our Sunday Visitor: What new understanding do you hope readers take away about Cardinal Pell’s contribution to the Church and his example of faith under fire?
Livingstone: All of us go through difficult times. His faith sustained him through terrible times, and we can all learn from that. I also think his contributions to public discussion in Australia, the U.S., Europe, and in Rome, showed how much Christianity has to offer people of today.
