As the world mourns the death of Pope Francis, attention has quietly shifted to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the man now steering the Vatican during one of the most sensitive moments in recent Catholic Church history.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Farrell moved to the United States as a young man, eventually becoming a bishop in Texas. But the now 77-year-old cardinal is no stranger to high-level church affairs.
Farrell’s journey has taken him across the globe. He once served as a chaplain at the University of Monterrey in Mexico and led a parish in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2007, he was appointed Bishop of Dallas, a position he held until 2016 when Pope Francis tapped him to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life—a role that also elevated him to cardinal.
Over the years, Farrell has become known for championing youth, marriage, and lay leadership within the Church.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him president of the Supreme Court of Vatican City State and the Commission for Confidential Matters.
Now, as Camerlengo, Farrell holds one of the Vatican’s most crucial behind-the-scenes roles; managing the day-to-day operations of the Holy See during the “Sede Vacante” period, when there is no reigning pope.
Among his key duties, he will be organizing the papal conclave that will elect the next pontiff.
He will also certify Pope Francis’ death, place his body in the coffin, and lead the procession from the chapel of Domus Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Though Farrell won’t vote in the conclave since cardinals over 80 are barred, his role in maintaining order and overseeing proceedings is vital.
Known for his calm demeanor and sharp administrative skills, Cardinal Farrell now stands at the center of a historic moment for the Catholic Church.
And while it’s rare, history shows that the Camerlengo can go on to become pope, just as Gioacchino Pecci (Pope Leo XIII) did in 1878, and Eugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) in 1939.