After the death of Pope Francis, an Irish-American Cardinal is playing an outstanding role in the supervision of Vatican’s affairs until the choice of a new pontiff.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell is a key figure in papal succession due to his appointment in 2019 as Camarlengo of the Apostolic Chamber.
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Camarlengo’s responsibilities include officially verifying the death of the Pope, performing some of the rites related to the papal funeral, supervising the preparations of the conclave and administering the Holy See until the new Pope is chosen.
Farrell’s appointment as Camarlengo was one of several samples of the deep confidence that Pope Francis deposited in this cleric born in Dublin.
In 2016, the Pope appointed him prefect of the Dicasterio for the laity, the family and life, which replaced the Pontifical Council for the laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. Months later, he granted him the Cardinal Birrete.
As Prefect, Farrell supervised the organization of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018 and in Rome in 2022. He was also in charge of the World Youth Day in Panama in 2019 and in Portugal in 2023.
In 2020, Pope Francis put him in charge of a committee in charge of monitoring internal financial decisions of the Vatican that were not subject to other control standards, which made Farrell one of the best informed prelates on Vatican finances.
In 2022, the Pope also appointed him president of a new commission to supervise investments.
At the beginning of 2024, the Cardinal added another responsibility: President of the Court of Cassation – the so -called “Supreme Court” of the Vatican – another papal appointment.
In a new sample of confidence, Francisco put Farrell in charge of the reform of the very unbalanced Vatican pension fund, naming him “unique administrator” at a critical moment.
With the death of the Pope, Farrell ceased in all these functions – except as Camarlengo.
Who is Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell?
Kevin Joseph Farrell was born in Ireland on September 2, 1947. He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained a priest on December 24, 1978. He studied at the University of Salamanca (Spain), at the Pontifical Gregorian University and in the Pontifical University of Santo Tomás in Rome.
He was chaplain of the Apostolic Movement Regnum Christi at the University of Monterrey, Mexico. Later, he denied having had prior knowledge of the sexual abuse committed by the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel.
After leaving the legionaries, Farrell was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Washington in 1984, where he served as director of the Hispanic Catholic Center, and in 1989 he was appointed responsible for finance of the Archdiocese.
In 2002 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, serving as a moderator of the Curia and Vicar General, one of the main advice functions to the then Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
Farrell lived with McCarrick for six years in a parish building renewed in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington. He later denied having knowledge of the accusations of sexual abuse against McCarrick, who was reduced to the lay state in 2019.
Farrell generated controversy in 2018 by suggesting in an interview with an Irish Catholic magazine that priests lacked the necessary experience to properly prepare the bride and groom for marriage.
That comment echoed a statement in 2017 in which he said that priests “have no credibility when it comes to living the reality of marriage.”
The cardinal was a firm defender of the controversial apostolic exhortation of 2016 about love in the family, Love happinessof Francisco.
“There is nothing in Love happiness that is contrary to the Gospel, “said Francisco does? Go to the Gospel. Look at each chapter: it is taken directly from one of the Gospels or the letters of St. Paul. ”
As a prefect of Dicastery for laity, family and life, Farrell helped coordinate Vatican initiatives during the year of the family Love happinesson the occasion of the fifth anniversary of its publication.
The role of Camarlengo
Camarlengo is one of the few high positions of the Roman curia that does not lose its position during the vacant headquarters. His role, regulated by the document The universe dominic of the flock 1996 and the Apostolic Constitution Preach the Gospel Of 2022, it is to administer the assets and finance of the Church as long as there is no potato.
Paragraph 17 of The universe dominic of the flock He points out that “the shrimp of the Holy Roman Church must officially verify the death of the Pope” and “must also place stamps in the study and bedroom of the Pope”, and subsequently “throughout the Pontifical apartment.”
Camarlengo also has the responsibility of notifying the death of the Pope to Cardinal Vicar of Rome, who in turn informs the Roman people through a special announcement. The Camarlengo takes possession of the apostolic palace of the Vatican, as well as the Palacios de Lartán and Castel Gandolfo, and manages these goods.
As Pope Francis lived in the Santa Marta house, and not in the Apostolic Palace, Camarlengo must also take possession and seal that place during the vacancy.
Only the Pope can appoint the cardinal who will hold the position of Camarlengo, although he can also leave the vacancy. In that case, the Cardinals College would hold an election to hold the position at the beginning of the vacancy.
Translated and adapted by ACI Press. Originally published in CNA.
Hannah Brockhaus
Hannah Brockhaus is correspondent in Rome by Catholic News Agency. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from the State University Truman in Missouri.