As the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, Pope Francis, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the responsibility of leading the Catholic Church has fallen to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican‘s camerlengo, during its period of mourning and transition.
It was Farrell who stood before the world to deliver sombre news from the Vatican, “The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house.” He is an Irish-born cardinal and longtime ally of the late pontiff.
As camerlengo, Farrell has now assumed an important administrative role in Vatican to oversee the Church’s daily operations and preparing for the election of a new pope.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Farrell said. “At 7:35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house… 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.” he added while delivering the news of Francis’s death.
Who is the Camerlengo?
As the papal throne is now vacant, Cardinal Farrell has assumed an important role that is vital to the Church’s continuity. As camerlengo — or chamberlain — he becomes the acting head of the Vatican during the “sede vacante,” the period between the death (or resignation) of a pope and the election of a new one.
The camerlengo’s first official duty is to verify the pope’s death and draw up the death certificate. Farrell will also place ceremonial seals on the pope’s bedroom and study and begin preparations for the funeral, which is expected to draw global dignitaries and millions of mourners.
But his role doesn’t end there. Over the coming weeks, Farrell will oversee the day-to-day administration of the Holy See, chairing a committee of three other cardinals and coordinating with Vatican officials to ensure the smooth functioning of Church affairs.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a global religious leader known for his humility, compassion, and progressive stance on social issues, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. His death followed a prolonged battle with respiratory illness and marks the end of a historic 12-year papacy that left a deep imprint on the Catholic Church and the world.
The Argentine-born pope had been hospitalised at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14, 2025, with a severe respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. It was the longest hospitalisation of his papacy, lasting 38 days. Francis had long suffered from lung complications, having had part of one lung removed in his youth.
World leaders including PM Modi, former US President Joe Biden, US Vice President JD Vance, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and others mourned Pope Francis.
