Who is Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo appointed by Pope Francis who will take part in the conclave to elect the next Pope

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell holds a central position in the Catholic Church. Since 2019, he has served as the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, a role that becomes especially significant during the election of a new pope.

Born on September 2, 1947, in Dublin, Ireland, Farrell has had a distinguished ecclesiastical career that has taken him to high-ranking roles within the Church. He joined the Legionaries of Christ and was ordained a priest in 1978. His academic background includes studies in philosophy and theology. In 1984, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as director of the Hispanic Catholic Center and later as the financial officer for the archdiocese.

In 2002, Farrell was appointed auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C., and in 2007 he was named bishop of Dallas. In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, placing him in charge of major events such as the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018 and World Youth Day in Panama in 2019.

His appointment as camerlengo

On February 14, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Kevin Farrell as camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. His duties are critical during the Sede Vacante, the period between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor. The camerlengo is responsible for managing the Vatican’s temporal goods and preparing the conclave that will elect the new pontiff.

The word “camerlengo” originates from camerarius domini papae, meaning “chamberlain of the Holy Father.” The role evolved from the ancient office of archdeacon of Rome and is personally appointed by the pope for a five-year term.

Among his responsibilities are officially confirming the pope’s death and sealing the papal apartments. He also announces the pope’s passing to the Roman people and oversees the funeral and burial arrangements. During the Sede Vacante, the camerlengo administers the day-to-day operations of the Holy See and ensures everything is in place for the upcoming conclave.

Criticism over the McCarrick case

Farrell has faced criticism over his alleged knowledge of sexual abuse accusations against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, with whom he worked closely in Washington. Farrell has denied knowing anything about the misconduct. McCarrick was laicized in 2019, becoming the first high-ranking American Catholic official to face criminal charges for sexual abuse.

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