Who Is Cardinal Kevin Farrell, The Acting Head Of Vatican After Pope Francis' Death?

Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday morning (April 21, 2025), Irish-born American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, took over as the acting head of the Vatican. He is the ‘camerlengo’ or the chamberlain — the cardinal in charge of formally verifying the pope’s death and the one who runs the ‘Holy See’ before the election of another.

It was Cardinal Farrell who made the announcement just over two hours after Francis had died.

Pope Francis had nominated the cardinal for the role of camerlengo in 2019.

Cardinal Farrell, 77, was born in Dublin on September 2, 1947. He entered the Legionaries of Christ religious order in 1966 and was ordained a priest for the Mexican-based order in 1978. He left six years later and became a diocesan priest in the Washington Archdiocese.

He is also known for his sense of humour and for speaking Spanish with an Irish brogue.