Vatican: Pope Francis passed away, and a U.S. cardinal has taken over as temporary head of the Vatican until a new pope is chosen. This important position is now held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a Dublin native who subsequently became a naturalized American citizen. As the “camerlengo,” Farrell, a former Bishop of Dallas, is in charge of overseeing the Vatican’s earthly affairs when a pope resigns or dies.

Farrell’s responsibilities as camerlengo include guarding the pope’s private residence, arranging for the burial, and formally certifying the pope’s death. In order to maintain secrecy and facilitate orderly voting, he also supervises the conclave’s preparations.

Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and Irish Gaelic, the 77-year-old has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He is a great value to the central administration of the Church because of his administrative abilities and fluency in the language.

Farrell was appointed to head the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life in 2016 after Pope Francis saw his potential early on and promoted him to cardinal. He was elected camerlengo in 2019, and in 2023 he was also appointed head of the Committee for Investments, the Commission for Confidential Matters, and the Vatican City State Supreme Court. These positions demonstrate his control over the administrative and financial affairs of the Vatican.

Farrell was born in 1947 in Dublin, where his religious career started. He studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and the University of Salamanca in Spain. He began his career as a chaplain at the University of Monterrey in Mexico after being ordained on December 24, 1978. He began working for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., in 1984, where he held positions as executive director of Catholic Charitable Organizations and director of the Spanish Catholic Center.

He was named an auxiliary bishop of Washington by Pope John Paul II in 2001, and he remained there until 2007, when he was appointed Bishop of Dallas. Pope Francis, who assigned him to supervise family life and later elevated him to the rank of cardinal, continued his rapid ascent within the Vatican hierarchy.

Farrell is skilled at handling both pastoral and administrative responsibilities, as seen by his long tenure in the United States and his important positions within the Vatican. His crucial role in the continuity and administration of the Church is shown by his leadership during this time of change at the Vatican.