Exclusive: Cardinal Pell: "I'm Not An Enthusiast [Of The Motu Proprio], But We Must Be Obedient"

Powerful Australian Cardinal George Pell Has Said That He Is Not An Enthusiast Of The Holy Father's Change To Canon Law.

Laudetur Iesus Christus.

Sydney - Well-known Australian Cardinal, George Pell has on Saturday suggested that he is not enthusiastic about new Church laws decreed by Pope Francis on Friday in relation to the celebration of the 1962 form of the Mass, colloquially called the 'Traditional Latin Mass'.

Cardinal Pell Is One of Pope Francis' Most Trusted Advisors. Photo: CNS

Whilst speaking to a gathering of young Catholics hosted by the Australian Catholic Students Association, His Eminence called for Catholics to be obedient to rulings made by the Holy Father or their local Bishop.

When asked about the Pope's decision, Cardinal Pell said, "Well, I have read the document and the letter, and as I said earlier, we all need to take a few deep breaths, talk to one another, say the rosary, and just see where we go."

"I'm not an enthusiast for the document at all, but in any healthy organisation what is important is obedience, even when you disagree with what is being asked for."

I remember the story of Sir John Monash, our [Australia's] greatest soldier in the first world war; he used to say to those who would work with him, will you still obey me when you think I am completely wrong?

Cardinal Pell acknowledged that the change in Canon law would not affect the Australian Church as it would in other places like France.

He then instructed young people to see how it goes saying, "How it will go forward; I'm not quite sure, let's just consider things and pray. [Don't] pack up your bags and go somewhere else, we've got to remain and stay, Church unity is enormously important, sometimes maintained with difficulty and all sorts of tensions."

Many Church commentators, including knowledgeable Americans and Australians, have suggested that the change in law is a test by the Vatican to see where Bishop's obediences lie, especially at a time where there are vacant sees in the United States and pressure on the Pope to name new Cardinals from both countries.