Abstract

The review presents Cardinal George Pell’s book Prison Journal. The Appeal. Volume I: 27 February – 13 July 2019 as a personal testimony of imprisonment and waiting for the final outcome of a judicial process. The author of the review outlines the figure of the Australian cardinal, his ecclesiastical career, his importance in the contemporary Catholic Church, and the dramatic experience of the trial that ended with his acquittal by the High Court of Australia in 2020. The analysis focuses on the structure and main themes of the publication, including justice, suffering, faith, the role of the media, and reflections on the condition of the contemporary Church. Particular attention is given to the spiritual dimension of the journal, in which suffering is interpreted through the perspective of Christian theology of the Cross as an experience of trial, spiritual growth, and trust in God. The review emphasizes the documentary, historical, and theological value of the book while also acknowledging its subjective character resulting from its autobiographical form. Prison Journal. The Appeal is presented as a work combining the features of a memoir, religious testimony, and reflection on the relationship between law, media, and society.