Following Pope Francis’s death on Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a 77-year-old Irish-American, has assumed interim leadership of the Vatican as camerlengo—a centuries-old role overseeing the Church during the papal vacancy, or Sedes Vacans. Appointed by Francis in 2019, Farrell is now responsible for certifying the pope’s death, sealing his private quarters, organizing the funeral rites, and preparing for the conclave where a new pope will be elected.

Wearing ceremonial vestments, Farrell led the initial prayer service and certified the pontiff’s death. He will oversee the transfer of Francis’s body to St. Peter’s Basilica and is tasked with maintaining day-to-day Vatican operations during this transitional period. He also chairs a cardinal committee and consults the wider College of Cardinals on key decisions.

Born in Dublin in 1947, Farrell joined the Legionaries of Christ before becoming a priest in Washington, DC. His Vatican career accelerated under Pope Francis, who appointed him head of several important departments. An MBA graduate from Notre Dame, Farrell is known for his administrative skills and multilingual fluency. Despite past scrutiny for ties to defrocked Archbishop McCarrick, Farrell has denied prior knowledge of any misconduct.

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