The Vatican’s announcement of Pope Francis’ demise on Monday morning got here from Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
The Irish-born American supplied sort phrases in regards to the late pontiff, saying: “He taught us to reside the values of the gospel with faithfulness, braveness, and common love, particularly for the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God, One and Triune.”
The announcement by Cardinal Farrell was only one side of his important position over the approaching days, because the Pope’s demise made him the interim chief of the Catholic Church.
The position is called the Camerlengo, or chamberlain.
However who’s Cardinal Farrell, and what are his obligations?
Who’s Kevin Farrell?
Cardinal Farrell was born in Dublin in 1947, and ordained a priest in 1978, having studied on the Pontifical Gregorian College in Rome and entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966.
After being ordained, he served as chaplain of the Regnun Christi Motion on the College of Monterrey in Mexico.
In 1984, he was incardinated within the archdiocese of Washington, the place he held numerous positions earlier than being appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Washington by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
He served as Washington’s moderator of the curia and chief vicar basic from 2001 till he was appointed as bishop of Dallas in 2007.
It was in 2016 that Pope Francis known as on him to work on the Vatican because the prefect of the newly established Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Household and Life.
Round three years later, he was nominated by the pope to be Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
Since then, he has been entrusted with different jobs of great duty, akin to president of the Fee for Confidential Issues and president of the Vatican Metropolis State Supreme Courtroom.
What are his obligations?
When a Pope dies or, extra not often, resigns, the Catholic Church enters a interval known as “sede vacante”. This implies “empty seat” – as there isn’t a Pope sitting on the throne of St Peter.
Throughout this era, the Camerlengo – on this case, Cardinal Farrell – takes cost.
He’s the one who was accountable for the formal dedication of the Pope’s demise.
He could have stood over the papal physique this morning and ceremoniously known as the Pope’s baptismal identify thrice. It is just when there isn’t a response to the calls that the Pope is formally pronounced useless.
After this, the demise certificates is written. The papal flats are locked by the Camerlengo, with the papal examine and bed room sealed.
The Camerlengo then breaks the Pope’s signet ring and seal with shears, to stop them from being utilized by anybody else.
On this sede vacante stage, which often lasts just a few weeks, Cardinal Farrell will run the executive and monetary duties of the Holy See till a brand new Pope takes over.
