George Pell: Ballarat – 80

George Pell was a talented footballer, scholar, and actor in school, and many expected him to pursue a degree in law or medicine. So, it came as a huge surprise when he decided to enter the seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1966, became a Bishop in 1987, and rose to become the Australian Cardinal of the Catholic church in 2003.

His rise to fame and recognition may appear smooth and steady, but it wasn’t without many prosecutions and hardship. In his eighties now, Pell enjoys retirement between his home in Australia and visits to Rome while maintaining his stance on several issues in the church and society.