The largely ceremonial job of camerlengo is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born American head of the Vatican’s laity office, who also announced Pope Francis' death on Monday morning.

Rome

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died at age 88 from a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis Dies

The death of a Pope brings about a period of transition and oversight within the Vatican, and this role is assumed by the Camerlengo. Presently, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, born in Ireland and now an American citizen, fulfills this crucial yet largely ceremonial role. Cardinal Farrell, who also serves as the head of the Vatican's laity office, recently announced the passing of Pope Francis, marking the beginning of the traditional mourning rituals.

Cardinal Farrell, aged 77, was responsible for commencing the centuries-old ceremonies associated with the Pope's death. He performed essential rites, including laying Pope Francis into his coffin and offering prayers while blessing the body with holy water. Beyond these duties, one of Cardinal Farrell's significant responsibilities is to oversee the conclave, the gathering at which a new Pope is elected to lead Catholics worldwide.

A native of Dublin, Cardinal Farrell has a well-rounded ecclesiastical background, having studied in Spain and Rome and gained experience working in churches across different countries, including Mexico and the United States. In 2007, he was appointed Bishop of Dallas, Texas, and in 2016, Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of Cardinal and assigned him to lead the Vatican's department dedicated to family pastoral care. Cardinal Farrell has expressed admiration for Pope Francis over the years, appreciating his acceptance of the limitations brought on by advancing age and exemplifying grace and strength.

Despite the significance and power attached to the role of Camerlengo, it is not typically a stepping stone to the papacy. Historically, only two Camerlengos, in 1878 and 1939, have ascended to the position of Pope.



Who is in charge between popes?

In the time between a Pope's death and the election of the next Pope someone has to run the Vatican. That responsibility falls on the Camerlengo the Vatican official in charge of the Holy See in the interim. Now it is 77-year-old Irish Catholic Cardinal Kevin Farrell who has taken on this important role in the centuries-old ceremonies to mourn the Pope. It was Farrell who announced to the world that Pope Francis had died. Dear brothers and sisters with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. Farrell laid Francis into his coffin praying over him and blessing his body with holy water. And Farrell is in charge of organizing the conclave the process that will determine the next leader of Catholics worldwide. Born in 1947 in Dublin Farrell studied in Spain and Rome and has worked in churches around the world including in Mexico and the United States. Farrell was appointed Bishop of Dallas in the U.S. state of Texas in 2007 but in 2016 Pope Francis asked him to serve as the leader of the Vatican's new department responsible for the pastoral care of families raising him to the rank of Cardinal. Through the years Farrell has expressed his admiration for Pope Francis such as when he discussed the Pope's advancing age. He accepts his limitations at this moment with a great spirit and a great heart. I think he's an example to all of us. Pope Francis named Cardinal Kevin Farrell as Camerlengo in 2019. It's a powerful and influential position but not one likely to lead to becoming Pope. Only twice in history in 1878 and in 1939 has the Camerlengo ascended to the papacy.

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Pope Francis Dies