The Camerlengo confirms the Pope’s death and manages the Vatican before the conclave. Irish Kevin Farrell was chosen by Francisco for the function.
Between the death of one Pope and the election of another (which should take place between May 5 and 10), a period called Vacantwho manages the Vatican is a chamberlain. Thus dictates the church protocol. Irish Kevin Joseph Farrell has been in the role since 2019 after the predecessor’s death.
The Camerlengo is the one who verifies the death of the Pope, and therefore who announces it to the world. He was also responsible for sealing the fourth and office of Francisco, when the pontiff died this Monday. But who is this camerlengo, appointed by the Pope?
Kevin Farrell was born in the Irish capital, Dublin, on September 2, 1947. He is 77 years old, and this Monday came to announce the death of the Pope, in a speech where Francisco praised, who “taught to live the values of the gospel with faithfulness, courage and universal love, especially for the poorest and marginalized.”
Some Portuguese could even be familiar with Farrell, since it was this cleric who announced that the 2022 Youth Days (which eventually happened in 2023) would be in Lisbon.
Farrell studied in Spain and Italy, but it was in the US that he became a priest in 1984. According to, he was elevated to Washington’s assistant bishop in 2001.
Nine years after being appointed Bishop of Dallas in 2007, Farrell’s life changed: he received a tPope Francis’ Elefonema asking him to move to Rome to direct the layer of the laity. He was then appointed Cardinal.
On Wednesday, Farrell will lead the procession that will accompany Francisco’s coffin to the Basilica of St. Peter.
And although it is not very commonFarrell can even be the next Pope, Even being Camerlengo. It happened in 1878, for example, when Gioacchino Pecci became Leo XIII.
