By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 17:28 pm
After the passing of Pope Francis, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish-American, is taking on a crucial role in managing Vatican affairs until a new pope is elected.
Appointed as the camerlengo of the apostolic chamber in 2019, Cardinal Farrell holds a significant position in the process of papal succession.
The duties of a camerlengo involve confirming the pope’s death, conducting certain rituals related to a papal funeral, overseeing the arrangements for a conclave, and supervising the administration of the Holy See until the next pope is chosen.
Pope Francis’ selection of Farrell as the camerlengo demonstrated the deep trust he had in the cardinal from Dublin.
In 2016, the pope appointed Farrell as the prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, which succeeded the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. He later elevated Farrell to the rank of cardinal.
As prefect, Farrell played a key role in organizing the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018 and in Rome in 2022.
Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell: A Man of Many Responsibilities
Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell is a prominent figure in the Vatican, with a wide range of responsibilities and leadership roles. He has overseen World Youth Day events in Panama in 2019 and is set to do the same in Portugal in 2023. A man of great influence, Pope Francis entrusted him with the task of monitoring internal Vatican financial decisions in 2020, making him an expert in Vatican finances.
In 2022, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Farrell as the chairman of a new commission to oversee investments, further solidifying his position within the Vatican hierarchy. In 2024, he was named the president of the court of cassation, the Vatican’s “supreme court,” in yet another papal nomination.
Most recently, Cardinal Farrell was given the crucial role of reforming the Vatican’s pension fund as the “sole administrator,” showcasing the pope’s trust in his abilities. Despite the passing of the pope, Farrell continued in his roles, except for that of camerlengo.
Getting to Know Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell
Born in Ireland on September 2, 1947, Kevin Joseph Farrell has had a remarkable journey in the Catholic Church. He joined the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained as a priest on December 24, 1978. Farrell pursued his studies at prestigious institutions such as the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome.
Prior to his current roles, Cardinal Farrell served as a chaplain for the Legion of Christ’s apostolic movement, Regnum Christi, at the University of Monterrey in Mexico. His dedication to his faith and his leadership qualities have earned him the trust and confidence of Pope Francis, who has entrusted him with key responsibilities within the Vatican.
