Protest rally around Pell funeral can go ahead as police, activists agree on alternate route

A planned protest around Cardinal George Pell's funeral in Sydney tomorrow can go ahead after police and activist groups agreed on an alternative route.

Community Action for Rainbow Rights planned to rally outside of St Mary's Cathedral in the city's CBD, but police wanted to block it citing safety concerns and made an urgent application to the NSW Supreme Court.

The debate was slated for a court showdown but this afternoon police and protesters agreed on an alternative route for the march - which includes walking up to College Street but not on it - meaning it can go ahead.

READ MORE: Court to rule on legality of protest at Cardinal George Pell's Sydney funeral

Police told the NSW Supreme Court they did not oppose the protest itself but had an issue with the proposed route.

Sydney-based Community Action for Rainbow Rights had vowed to protest regardless of the court's decision.

Protest organiser Kim Stern spoke outside court this afternoon, saying the group is glad it can "have our opposition heard tomorrow".

"The defiance of activists against this appalling police censorship, and ensuing publicity, has secured our right to march," Stern said.

NSW Police maintains it wasn't trying to stop protests but ensure it could go ahead safely alongside thousands of mourners.

"We've achieved a good outcome," Acting Assistant Commissioner Martin Fileman said.

The body of Pell lies in state at St Mary's Cathedral ahead of tomorrow's funeral.

Last night Pell's coffin arrived at the cathedral rectory about 8pm, and this morning was driven down Cathedral Street by a hearse into the cathedral itself.

The sombre procession of religious officials in muted colours contrasted with brightly coloured ribbons tied to the fence outside St Mary's.

Some of the ribbons, representing survivors of clerical abuse, were removed this morning but have since been reaffixed.

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Pell, formerly Australia's highest-ranking Catholic and one of the most controversial figures in the country, died in Rome aged 81 earlier this month after complications following hip replacement surgery.

He was jailed in 2019 over child sexual abuse allegations but always maintained his innocence.

Pell spent more than a year in jail before the High Court overturned the decision in 2020.