Farrell Kevin Joseph

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell was born on September 2, 1947, in Dublin, Ireland. He completed his studies in Spain and Rome, earning licentiates in philosophy and theology. He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained a priest on December 24, 1978. After an initial ministry in Mexico, he carried out pastoral work in the United States, where he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington in 1984.

There, he held various positions, including parochial vicar, director of the Spanish Catholic Center, executive director of charitable organizations, and secretary for financial affairs. Starting in 2001, he served as vicar general for administration and moderator of the curia in Washington.

On December 28, 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, and he received episcopal ordination on February 11, 2002. He chose the motto “State in fide” (“Stand firm in the faith”). On March 6, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Dallas.

During his episcopal ministry, he held various responsibilities, including academic roles and participation in Eucharistic congresses. Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served as treasurer, chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance and the Committee on National Collections, member of the Committee on Divine Worship, consultant to the Committee on Migration, and member of the task force for the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

On August 15, 2016, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. He was created and proclaimed Cardinal in the Consistory of November 19, 2016. Subsequently, Pope Francis appointed him Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on February 14, 2019, President of the Commission for Reserved Matters on September 29, 2020, and President of the Court of Cassation of the Vatican City State on January 1, 2024.

He is a Member of the following Dicasteries: for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; for Legislative Texts; for Evangelization (Section for Fundamental Questions regarding the Evangelization of the World); as well as of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See; and the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.