Irish cardinal given top Vatican post by the Pope
IRISH cardinal Kevin Farrell has been named by Pope Francis as the new ‘camerlengo’ – the prelate who runs the Vatican between the death or resignation of a Pontiff and the election of a new one.
The 70-year-old Dubliner is now the most senior Irishman at the Vatican. Last year he was the Vatican official with responsibility for co-ordinating efforts around the World Meeting of Families in Dublin that included a visit by Pope Francis.
As prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, the cardinal was responsible for barring former President Mary McAleese last year from taking part in a conference in Italy to mark International Women’s Day.
In the case of a Papal death, the camerlengo is the person who officially confirms it, traditionally by tapping the Pontiff’s head three times with a silver hammer and calling out his name. He then seals the Papal residence and office.
Cardinal Farrell was born in Dublin in September 1947. He studied under the Christian Brothers in Drimnagh before joining the Legionaries of Christ in 1966.
He has served most of his priestly life in the Americas. In December 2001 he was named auxiliary bishop of Washington and in March 2007 was appointed Bishop of Dallas.