Who is Kevin Farrell, the Irish Camerlengo of Pope Francis, who plays a key role during the Sede Vacante period?

After news broke of the passing of Pope Francis, heavy hearts now focus on who will replace him.

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, for example, is one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Church. He serves as the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, a position he has held since 2019, which is crucial during the appointment of a new Pope.

Born on Sep. 2, 1947, in Dublin, Ireland, Farrell has had a remarkable ecclesiastical career, leading him to hold important positions within the Church. He joined the Legion of Christ and was ordained a priest in 1978.

His academic background includes studies in Philosophy and Theology. In 1984, he moved to Washington, where he served as director of the Hispanic Catholic Center and later as the financial officer of 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 Laity, Family, and Life, a position that put 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 role is crucial during the Sede Vacante, the period between the death or resignation of a Pope and the election of his successor. His responsibilities include managing the temporal goods and rights of the Holy See, as well as organizing the conclave to elect the new Pope.

The word Camerlengo comes from camerarius domini papae, an expression that roughly translates to “chamberlain of the Lord Pope.” The position evolved from what centuries ago was the archdeacon of the Church of Rome, and it is appointed by the Pope for a five-year term.

Among his duties, the Camerlengo must officially verify the Pope’s death and seal his private chambers. He is also responsible for announcing the Pope’s death to the people of Rome and overseeing the funeral and burial preparations. During the Sede Vacante, the Camerlengo manages the daily affairs of the Holy See and ensures that everything is in place for the election of the new Pontiff.

Criticism over the McCarrick case

Farrell faced criticism for his alleged prior knowledge of the sexual abuse accusations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, with whom he worked closely in Washington. In his defense, he denied any knowledge of such behavior. McCarrick was expelled from the Vatican in 2019 and became the first high-ranking U.S. Catholic Church official to face charges of sexual abuse.

*This article was written in Spanish and translated with the help of AI.

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