Cardinal Kevin Farrell Takes Charge Of Vatican Following Pope Francis’s Death

With the passing of Pope Francis, the immediate administration of the Vatican has shifted to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a Dublin-born prelate who now holds one of the Church’s most vital roles — Camerlengo.

Appointed by Pope Francis, Farrell is now responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Vatican during the sede vacante — the period between the death of a pope and the election of his successor. 

His duties include convening key meetings to organize the late pope’s funeral and ultimately setting the stage for the Conclave that will elect the next leader of the Catholic Church.

On Monday evening, Cardinal Farrell was scheduled to preside over the solemn rite during which Pope Francis’s body would be placed in his coffin at the Casa Santa Marta; the Vatican residence where the 88-year-old pontiff lived and passed away.

Earlier that morning, it was Farrell who delivered the news of the pope’s death to the world.

“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” he announced from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his Church.”

Aged 77, Farrell holds dual Irish and American citizenship and has been Camerlengo since 2019. Known for his wit and a distinctive Spanish accent tinged with Irish inflection; a nod to his years spent in Mexico; he currently serves as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, a department Pope Francis tasked him to lead in 2016.

That same year, Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal.

Farrell has held a prominent role in Vatican administration since then. As of January 2024, he also serves as president of the Vatican City State Supreme Court.

Before moving to Rome, he spent nearly three decades ministering in the United States — including nine years in Dallas and time in Washington, D.C. In a light-hearted 2016 interview with The Irish Times, he recalled not believing the pope was actually calling to tell him he’d been made a cardinal. “Like hell he is,” Farrell joked at the time, thinking it was a prank.

As Camerlengo, Farrell has sweeping authority, including access to the Vatican’s financial and administrative records. 

Though he is not tasked with governing the Church’s spiritual matters, he plays a key organizational role in ensuring a smooth transition between pontificates.

He will be supported by three other cardinals during this delicate and historic period.