Following the death of Pope Francis, Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell has stepped into one of the most critical roles in the Catholic Church: the camerlengo, or chamberlain, tasked with overseeing the Vatican during the transitional period until a new pope is elected.
Cardinal Farrell, 77, born in Dublin in 1947, was appointed to this role by Pope Francis in 2019. His responsibilities during this solemn period, known as Apostolica Sedes Vacans, include managing the daily affairs of the Vatican and preparing for the conclave the secretive election of the next pope.
The announcement of Pope Francis’ passing was made by Farrell himself, who solemnly declared that the pontiff had “returned to the home of the Father.” With that, he assumed a highly visible role in both spiritual leadership and the administrative operations of the Church.
Farrell’s journey to this pivotal position has been marked by decades of international service. He studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain and later at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His pastoral career began in Mexico before moving to the United States, where he served in parishes in Maryland and eventually became the Bishop of Dallas in 2007.
In 2016, Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican to lead the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life—an important department focused on pastoral care for families. He was elevated to cardinal that same year. In 2023, Farrell’s influence grew further as he was named president of the Supreme Court of Vatican City State and head of the Commission for Confidential Matters.
Now, as camerlengo, Farrell’s duties are ceremonial and deeply rooted in Church tradition. He will oversee the certification of Pope Francis’ death, the placement of his body in a coffin, and a procession to St. Peter’s Basilica, expected as soon as Wednesday. He will also coordinate the preparations for the conclave that will bring forth a new spiritual leader for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
Though technically eligible to be elected pope himself, Cardinal Farrell’s primary task now is to ensure a smooth, respectful transition during one of the Church’s most significant moments.
