Cardinal George Pell arrives at the Melbourne County Court on Wednesday. Credit:Jason South Among those who submitted references for Pell were former Prime Minister John Howard, who described Pell as a "person of both high intelligence and exemplary character", and Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor Greg Craven, who wrote that Pell's "public presentation does not necessarily match his private persona". "Publicly, he is business-like, and can appear gruff and intensely determined ... privately, he is a deeply sensitive person: thoughtful, considerate; and notably charitable," Mr Craven wrote. Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor Greg Craven. Credit:Marco Del Grande Long-time friends of Pell, one of his cousins, his former private secretary and several figures from Catholic organisations were also among those who submitted glowing references to the court.

Many commented that he was a family man who had helped them raise their children, with most saying they believed the public perception of Pell was very different to his private persona. Loading Pell's cousin Chris Meney, who said he had driven the cardinal to and from court many times, described him as "generous and humble". "Despite the public persona often portrayed of him, he is a man who feels it deeply when others are hurt or damaged," he said. Sydney lawyer Terence K. Tobin, QC, who said he had known Pell since the 1990s and had holidayed with him, also said the Cardinal's public image was at odds with the private persona.

"Through out these public events, he has never in my company spoke ill of, or with bitterness against, those who have made accusations against him... I think it says much of him as a person that he has always demonstrated good will towards them," he said. "Privately, he has genuine compassion for the suffering of victims of abuse and an understanding of the lasting damage it does." His private secretary between 1997 to 2014, Michael Casey, described his years working with Pell as "one of the greatest blessings of my life", while Katrina Potter, who worked with Pell in the media office of the Archdiocese of Sydney, said she had "personally seen the Cardinal's empathy with victims or survivors of abuse and their families". "I believe his commitment to eradicating this scourge from the church is profound ... I find it difficult to understand how a man who has achieved so much publicly and privately has drawn so much ill feeling," she said. The references also showed a glimpse into Pell's life since Victoria Police charged him in 2017.

Robert Richter QC outside the County Court. Credit:AAP Anne McFarlane said the cardinal had been staying with her family during legal proceedings this year and last year. "Living with Cardinal Pell for so much of the past eight months, driving him to and from court and sitting in support of him on many occasions, I have come to know him on a day-to-day level... his needs are very simple, he is completely humble and undemanding and he is very grateful for any kindness or help at all," she wrote. "I don't even recognise the George Pell who is portrayed in the media." She said Pell offered the family support when her daughter gave birth to a baby who was very sick and while her 51-year-old sister was terminally ill.

"Over the years of our friendship I have been well aware of the portrayal of Cardinal Pell in the media and it is a far cry from my experience of him," she said. Others that submitted character references to the court included Sue Buckingham, the founder of religious group David's Place, which helps people who are homeless and disabled; Ellie Heiss, the former coordinator of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry; and a former colleague at the Archdiocese of Sydney, Daniel Casey. Pell, 77, will be sentenced on March 13 after he was found guilty last year of five charges over the sexual abuse of two 13-year-old choirboys inside St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne in December 1996, after Sunday mass. He also attacked one of the boys early in 1997. Pell, who was the Archbishop of Melbourne at the time, maintains he is innocent.