On April 21, the Catholic Church went into a period of profound mourning as word began to spread of Pope Francis’s death. The news did not come from the Vatican press office or international media but from an Irish-American cardinal, Kevin Farrell, whose name is not well recognized outside the Church. As camerlengo of the Vatican, Farrell now has a key role in guiding the Church through the transition.
Kevin Farrell Reports Pope Francis’ Death
Breaking the somber news, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced, “Dearest brothers and sisters, with profound sorrow, I must tell you of the passing of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, entered into the house of the Father.”
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra seal the doors of the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace and the door to the apartment of the Casa Santa Marta, where the late Pope Francis lived.
The rite of the certification of death and… pic.twitter.com/PP6j4SbqPr
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025
He went on, “His whole life was spent in the service of the Lord and his Church. He taught us to live the values of the gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, particularly in favour of the poorest and marginalised. With great gratitude for his example of a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the triune God.
Farrell takes over operational management of the Vatican during this interregnum—the time between the end of a papacy and the election of a new one. As camerlengo, he will preside over the conclave to choose the next pope while managing daily Vatican affairs.
Who is Cardinal Kevin Farrell?
Cardinal Kevin Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1947. He studied theology at the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Following his ordination in 1978, Farrell started his clerical life as a chaplain to the Regnum Christi Movement at the University of Monterrey in Mexico.
He arrived in the United States in 1984 and became a member of the Archdiocese of Washington. He was designated as the auxiliary bishop of Washington, DC, in 2002, followed by a position as the Dallas bishop in 2007. His Vatican profile describes a smooth progression through the hierarchy of the Church.
From 2002 to 2006, Farrell served under then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was subsequently defrocked in 2019 for sexually abusing children and adults. While questioned, Farrell had denied any awareness of McCarrick’s behavior.
Rising in the Vatican Hierarchy
In 2016, Pope Francis named Farrell prefect of the newly established Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, making him a leading Vatican figure. Three years later, the Pope appointed him camerlengo, giving him one of the most delicate roles in Church administration.
Farrell jokingly remembered the phone call from Pope Francis to tell him of his appointment. In an interview with The Irish Times, he responded, “Like hell he is,” when his secretary informed him that the Pope was calling. “I kept saying to her, ‘No, that is one of my bishop friends, just messing.'”
Since becoming camerlengo, he has had more responsibilities, including president of the Commission for Confidential Matters and president of the Vatican City State Supreme Court. Although he disagrees with Pope Francis regarding same-sex marriage, he is in favor of the pontiff’s views regarding divorced and remarried Catholics.
Duties of the Camerlengo After a Pope’s Death
Cardinal Farrell’s position as camerlengo grants him great power during sede vacante, when the Holy See is vacant. The camerlengo’s first duty is to verify that the pope has indeed died. Historically, he invokes the pope’s baptismal name three times while standing over his body. After there is no reaction, the death is duly noted.
Farrell also led the first prayers after Pope Francis’s passing and oversaw the preparation of the pope’s body for burial. He ensures that the papal ring and seal are destroyed with ceremonial shears to prevent misuse.
Along with spiritual responsibilities, Farrell now oversees the Vatican’s daily life. He closes up the papal apartments, collects financial reports, and liaises with the College of Cardinals on the forthcoming conclave. He has the mandate, by the Church’s constitution, to call for the Holy See’s financial report and budget during this interregnum period.
According to a CNN report, just three officials—the camerlengo and two others—keep working during the interregnum. All other Vatican officials put their work on hold until a new pope is chosen.
Could Farrell Be the Next Pope?
While Cardinal Farrell is in a strong position during this period of transition, Vatican law does not bar a camerlengo from becoming pope. But history indicates that this is rare. Only two camerlengos have ever become popes: Gioacchino Pecci, who became Pope Leo XIII in 1878, and Eugenio Pacelli, who became Pope Pius XII in 1939.
Whether or not Farrell becomes a contender remains to be determined. But currently, his position as camerlengo puts him at the center of the most pivotal moment in the Catholic Church’s recent history.
