Vacant headquarters: What is Camarlengo and what are its functions?

Cardinal Camarlengo of the Catholic Church is one of the officials at the service of the Pope, whose figure acquires a crucial importance in the election of the new bishop of Rome during the period called vacant seat, which occurs after the death or resignation of a pontiff.

Its main responsibility is to take care and administer the temporary goods and rights of the Holy See during the vacantin addition to ensuring the preparation of the conclave that will choose the next Pope.

Since the 16th century, it is mandatory that Camarlengo’s position falls on a cardinal. He is currently the Irish-American Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicasterio for the laity, the family and life, appointed by Pope Francis in 2019.

In 2022, through Apostolic Constitution Preach the GospelPope Francis reorganized the structure of the Holy See and suppressed what was then called Apostolic Chamber, a collegiate ecclesiastical council that supported Camarlengo.

According to the new provision, Camarlengo now has the support of a vice -cake, a position currently occupied by the Brazilian archbishop Ilson of Jesus Montanari, and three temporary attendees. These cardinals include the Coordinator of the Council of Economic Affairs, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and the other two are selected in accordance with the rules established for the election of the new Pope.

This new structure replaces the old apostolic chamber, simplifying and modernizing the Vatican administration during the period of vacant.

The other functions of Camarlengo, beyond the administration of the temporary goods of the Holy See and the preparation of the conclave, were established in the Apostolic Constitution The universe dominic of the flock, promulgated by Pope San Juan Paul II in 1996:

1. Cardinal Camarlengo “must officially verify the death of the pontiff” in the presence of other ecclesiastics, and must also “seal the study and room of the same pontiff, providing that the personnel who usually live in the private apartment can continue in it until after the burial of the Pope, at which time the entire pontifical apartment will be sealed.”

2. Cardinal Camarlengo must communicate the death of the Pope to Cardinal Vicar for the city, in this case the Italian Baldassare Reina, “which will give news to the Roman people with a special notification.”

3. Cardinal Camarlengo must communicate the death of the Pope to Cardinal Arciprest of the Vatican Basilica, currently the Italian Mauro Gambetti.

4. Cardinal Camarlengo must “take possession of the Vatican Apostolic Palace and, personally or through a delegate of his, Lateran’s palaces and Castel Gandolfo, exercising his custody and government.”

5. Cardinal Camarlengo must establish “everything concerning the burial of the pontiff, unless he, when he lived, would have expressed his will in this regard.”

6. Cardinal Camarlengo must “take care of, in the name and with the consent of the Cardinals College, all that circumstances advise for the defense of the rights of the Apostolic Headquarters and for a straight administration of it.”

7. Cardinal Camarlengo, along with the three cardinals attending, “are obliged to watch carely so that the reserved character of what happens in the Sistine Chapel” is not violated in any way during the voting operations of the conclave for the choice of a new Pope, in addition to ensuring the safeguard “of the adjacent premises, both before and after and after such operations.”

8. Cardinal Camarlengo must write a report, approved by the three cardinals attending after the conclave, “in which he declares the result of the voting of each session. This writing will be delivered to the Pope and then will be kept in the corresponding file, closed in a sealed envelope, which cannot be opened by anyone, unless the Supreme Pontiff allowed it explicitly.”