A new pope would be chosen in coming weeks to succeed Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday (April 21, 2025). As per the millennia-old tradition, cardinals or senior Church officials from around the world would hold the conclave to elect the next chief pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican.
While the selection of Pope Francis's successor would take some time, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell from the US has been named as interim head of the Vatican. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1947, Cardinal Farrell held a series of positions at the Vatican before Pope Francis nominated him as the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church in 2019.
According to Britannica, when a pope's reign ends either due to death or resignation, the Cardinal Camerlengo moves into the Vatican Palace. If the pope has passed away, the Camerlengo performs a ceremonial ritual to confirm the death: he gently taps the pope’s head with a silver hammer and calls out his baptismal name three times. If there is no response, he formally declares the pope deceased.
A Holy See Press bulletin on Monday said, "Following the notification of the death of the Roman Pontiff Francis, in accordance with the provisions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nos. 21-40), this evening, Monday 21 April, at 20.00, His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin."
Who is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell? More about him
Farrell was born on September 2, 1947, in Dublin. After finishing primary and secondary school, he went to the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He educational qualifications include a licentiate in philosophy and theology from the University of St. Thomas in Rome. He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained a priest on December 24, 1978.
Following his ordination, he served as chaplain for the Regnum Christi Movement at the University of Monterrey in Mexico. Beginning in 1983, he carried out his pastoral duties at St. Bartholomew Parish in Bethesda, Washington.
In 1984, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington, where he went on to hold several important roles. In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the newly established Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life within the Roman Curia.
He was appointed as President of the Vatican City State Supreme Court, with effect from 1st January 2024.
While the selection of Pope Francis's successor would take some time, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell from the US has been named as interim head of the Vatican. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1947, Cardinal Farrell held a series of positions at the Vatican before Pope Francis nominated him as the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church in 2019.
According to Britannica, when a pope's reign ends either due to death or resignation, the Cardinal Camerlengo moves into the Vatican Palace. If the pope has passed away, the Camerlengo performs a ceremonial ritual to confirm the death: he gently taps the pope’s head with a silver hammer and calls out his baptismal name three times. If there is no response, he formally declares the pope deceased.
A Holy See Press bulletin on Monday said, "Following the notification of the death of the Roman Pontiff Francis, in accordance with the provisions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nos. 21-40), this evening, Monday 21 April, at 20.00, His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin."
Who is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell? More about him
Farrell was born on September 2, 1947, in Dublin. After finishing primary and secondary school, he went to the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He educational qualifications include a licentiate in philosophy and theology from the University of St. Thomas in Rome. He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained a priest on December 24, 1978.
Following his ordination, he served as chaplain for the Regnum Christi Movement at the University of Monterrey in Mexico. Beginning in 1983, he carried out his pastoral duties at St. Bartholomew Parish in Bethesda, Washington.
In 1984, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington, where he went on to hold several important roles. In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the newly established Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life within the Roman Curia.
He was appointed as President of the Vatican City State Supreme Court, with effect from 1st January 2024.
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