Former North Texas bishop plays crucial role if the pope dies. Here’s how the job works
As Pope Francis remains in critical condition after a Feb. 14 hospitalization, one former North Texas bishop’s role in the Catholic Church has become more important.
Pope Francis remains in critical condition, but is showing “slight improvement,” according to a Monday update from the Vatican. The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalized since Feb. 14, first battling a bout of bronchitis that led to pneumonia in both of his lungs.
If a pope dies, the person who certifies his death is the camerlengo, or chamberlain, who currently is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell. The Irish-born Farrell served in Dallas before moving into his current role.
Here’s what to know about the camerlengo, the conclave process and what happens in the event of a pope’s death.
What are Cardinal Farrell’s North Texas ties?
In 2007, Farrell was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Dallas.
Farrell served in the role until 2016, when he was asked by Pope Francis to join the Roman Curia in Rome. A handful of years later in 2019, the pope appointed Farrell as camerlengo, according to the Vatican.
Before his Dallas stay, Farrell served in Washington D.C. from the early 1980s to the mid-200s.
What does a camerlengo do?
One of the main roles of the camerlengo is to certify the pope’s death.
After certifying, the camerlengo will assist other cardinals in the preparation for the papal election, or conclave. The camerlengo also administers the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See until a new pope is chosen.
In the Oscar-nominated 2024 film “Conclave,” which is about the fictional selection of a new pope, John Lithgow portrays the camerlengo.,
How does the conclave work?
The conclave is led by the College of Cardinals and begins 15 days after the death or resignation of the pope.
There are 252 cardinals in the college and only those under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The eligible participants are known as cardinal electors and are limited to 120.
During the conclave, the Sistine Chapel is sealed to the outside world as the cardinal electors vote for the next pope.
The conclave is voted through a secret ballot. There are four rounds every day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, according to United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. After a cardinal receives the necessary votes, the dean of the college asks if they accept the position.
If they accept, the pope-elect chooses a papal name and white smoke is released above the chapel to signal that a new pope has been chosen.
Has a camerlengo ever been elected pope?
Yes, on two occasions.
Gioacchino Pecci served as camerlengo from 1877 to 1878 and was elected pope in 1878, choosing the name of Pope Leo XIII. Eugenio Pacelli served as camerlengo from 1935 to 1939 and was elected pope in 1939, taking the name of Pope Pius XII.
