Cardinal Kevin Farrell: the Vatican's steward in crisis

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell is one of the prominent figures of the contemporary Catholic Church, known for holding key positions in the Vatican and his long-standing pastoral service in the United States and Mexico.

Born in Ireland, Farrell gained international recognition for his work on behalf of laypeople, families, and life, as well as his involvement in managing the finances of the Holy See.

His career includes both priestly and administrative service, making him one of the more influential figures in the Roman Curia.

Kevin Joseph Farrell was born on 2 September 1947, in Dublin, Ireland, as the second of four sons in an Irish-speaking family. His older brother, Brian Farrell, also a clergyman, has served as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 2002. Kevin Farrell grew up in an environment deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, which influenced his later life choices.

After completing primary and secondary education, Farrell began his studies at the University of Salamanca in Spain, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He then continued his education at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, obtaining Bachelor's degrees in Philosophy and Theology. He also studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where he received a Master's degree in Dogmatic Theology (1976) and a Bachelor's degree in Pastoral Theology (1977). Additionally, he completed studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, earning a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), and in 2017 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from that institution.

In 1966, at the age of 19, Kevin Farrell joined the Legionaries of Christ, beginning his priestly formation. He was ordained a priest on 24 December 1978, in Rome, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, by Cardinal Eduardo Pironio.

After ordination, he was sent to Mexico, where he served as a chaplain at the University of Monterrey, conducting seminars on bioethics and social ethics. He later served as the general administrator of the Legionaries of Christ, overseeing seminars and schools in Italy, Spain, and Ireland.

In 1984, Farrell left the Legionaries of Christ and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington in the United States. There, he began working in pastoral ministry as a vicar in the parishes of St. Peter's in Olney, St. Bartholomew's in Bethesda, and St. Thomas the Apostle in Washington. In 1985 he became the director of the Spanish Catholic Centre of the Archdiocese, and in 1988 he served as the interim director of the Catholic Charities there. From 1989–2001 he was the financial secretary of the Archdiocese, and in 1995 he received the title of honorary prelate from the Vatican.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Farrell as the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Washington and Pastor of the Annunciation Parish. On 28 December of the same year, Farrell was appointed auxiliary bishop of Washington with the titular see of Rusuccuru. He received his episcopal consecration on 11 February 2002, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, from Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at the time.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Farrell as the Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas in Texas, where he served until 2016. During this time, he became known as a critic of abortion and an advocate for the papal exhortation Amoris Laetitia, which dealt with family pastoral care. He was also chairman of the Committee on National Collections of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2009 and moderator of the Council on Diocesan Financial Management.

In 2016, Pope Francis appointed Farrell as the prefect of the newly established Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, which began operations on 1 September 2016. That same year, on 9 October, the Pope announced that Farrell would become a cardinal, and the consistory took place on 19 November 2016. Farrell received the title of cardinal deacon with the titular church of San Giuliano Martire in Rome.

As the prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, Farrell focused on promoting the role of the laity in the Church and supporting family pastoral care. In 2022, he emphasised that marriage and family are central themes for the Church, and families based on the sacrament of marriage play a key role in transmitting the faith. In one of the interviews, he stated that in the future, the dicastery for laypeople could be led by a layperson, following Pope Francis's reforms introduced in the Praedicate Evangelium constitution.

Farrell played an important role in organising the World Meetings of Families, including the 10th Meeting in 2022, which took place in a new format, combining events in Rome with local initiatives worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, he convinced Pope Francis to postpone the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Days to 2022 and 2023, arguing that organising such events in uncertain conditions would be irresponsible.

After the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, as the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, took over key responsibilities related to managing the Holy See during the sede vacante. In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him to this position, entrusting him with responsibility for the Vatican's administration after his death or resignation. As Camerlengo, Farrell announced the Pope's death and oversees preparations for the conclave that will choose the new successor of St. Peter.

The role of Camerlengo at the time of the Pope's death is not only administrative but also symbolic. Farrell manages the daily affairs of the Vatican, seals the papal apartments, and oversees the organisation of the Pope's funeral. His experience in financial and administrative management makes him an ideal candidate for this position.

In addition to the role of Camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell holds several other important positions in the Vatican, which remain essential even during the sede vacante.

In 2020, he became the president of the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority, a new body in the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing confidential legal, economic, and financial records. In 2022, he assumed the position of chairman of the Pontifical Committee for Investments, and as of 1 January 2024, he is also the president of the Supreme Court of Vatican City State. Additionally, in 2018, he became a member of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, and in 2017, a member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

Cardinal Farrell has not avoided controversies. In 2019, he admitted to accepting a donation of £21,000 from Bishop Michael J. Bransfield for the renovation of his apartment in Rome.

The money came from the funds of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, causing a scandal when it was revealed that Bransfield was using diocesan funds for personal expenses. Farrell returned the money to the diocese, and Bransfield was removed from office.

Moreover, in 2019, there were speculations regarding Farrell's connections with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, with whom he shared a residence in Washington during his time as vicar general. McCarrick was later accused of sexual misconduct, casting a shadow on some individuals around him. However, there is no evidence that Farrell was involved in any wrongdoing.

The death of the Pope triggers a precisely planned sequence of actions to ensure the continuity of the Church's functioning and a dignified farewell to its head. Francis, even on the eve of his death, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to give the Urbi et Orbi blessing, and then boarded the popemobile and rode around the square for an extended time – as it turned out later, it was his last public appearance.

Immediately after the death is confirmed, strictly defined rituals begin – the body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica, and the person serving as Camerlengo calls the Pope's name three times and touches his forehead with a silver hammer, symbolically confirming the death of the head of the Church.

The responsibility for taking over the Vatican lies with the Camerlengo – currently the Irish Cardinal Kevin Farrell – who, among other tasks, destroys the papal Fisherman's Ring and coordinates preparations for the conclave, that is, the election of a new Pope.

The conclave begins a few days after the funeral and proceeds in strict secrecy – cardinal electors are confined in the Sistine Chapel and vote until a new head of the Church is chosen, following a centuries-old procedure and precise protocol.