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Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The financial heavyweight, the media guru and the abuse investigator: What next for top Irish Vatican clerics under Pope Leo XIV?
The hurly-burly is almost done. Pope Leo XIV's Mass of inauguration in St Peter's Square takes place tomorrow and then the new papacy begins properly. As the first US pontiff becomes the 267th occupant of the Throne of St Peter, it would not be unreasonable to consider the likely fate of those Irishmen working at the Vatican, particularly given the high profile that at least one of them took in the run-up to the conclave where Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope in a surprise vote. For now, all officials there stay in place, as announced by the new pope last week. They include prominent Irish figures: Dublin-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as Camerlengo effectively ran the Vatican between the two popes; Archbishop John Kennedy, secretary for discipline at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the powerful Vatican department, and Bishop Paul Tighe, secretary for the culture section of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, an administrative unit of the Curia. There are good reasons to believe all will remain in place, if not ascend further as this papacy gets into its stride. Each is highly experienced in areas deemed critical to the Catholic Church by the College of Cardinals in discussions before the conclave: its finances, the issue of abuse and artificial intelligence (AI). READ MORE Cardinal Farrell (77), as Camerlengo of the Holy See, has probably become the best-known Irishman worldwide since Pope Francis died on April 21st. [ 'Wouldn't it be great if he got voted in?' The cardinal from Drimnagh tasked with organising the papal conclave Opens in new window ] It is unlikely Cardinal Farrell's duties as Camerlengo will be needed any time soon. However, he has much more weighty roles (in the temporal sense) at the Vatican. Last November he was appointed by Pope Francis as sole director of the pension fund for the Holy See, covering former employees of both the Roman curia and Vatican City state. This, the Pope said at the time, was because of 'a serious prospective imbalance of the fund' leaving it unable to meet its obligations. Cardinal Farrell has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame in the US. His appointment was due to the dire financial situation at the Vatican. Its last set of accounts, approved in the middle of last year , included an €83 million shortfall, while its pension fund shortfall has been estimated at €631 million. Cardinal Kevin Farrell officiates in his capacity as Camerlengo as the body of Pope Francis lies in state in St Peter's Basilica last month. Photograph: Antonio Masiello/Getty In 2020, the pope appointed Cardinal Farrell to lead the Vatican's Commission for Reserved Matters, a new office which oversees investments and spending related to sovereign or confidential diplomatic matters. That followed a scandal over the investment of more than $200 million (€179 million) by the Vatican in a London building. In 2022 Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Farrell as chair of the Pontifical Committee for Investments with responsibility for ensuring all such were ethical and in line with Catholic teaching. And in January 2024, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Farrell to head the Vatican's Supreme Court. Cardinal Farrell is something of a heavyweight at the Vatican, not least when it comes to finances, one of the main subjects discussed by the College of Cardinals at their meetings before the recent conclave began. It is clear Pope Francis had great confidence in his abilities and there is no reason to think Pope Leo might believe otherwise. What Pope Leo may do is relieve Cardinal Farrell of his role as prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, which he has held since it was established in 2016, to allow him concentrate on helping to eliminate the Church's debt. Another Irishman likely to remain in situ at the Vatican is yet another Dubliner, Archbishop John Kennedy (56) from Clontarf. He has been working at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) since 2003 where his boss was the late Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI. Currently it has two new sections: a doctrinal section and a disciplinary section, while, in 2022, the Vatican's Commission for the Protection of Minors became part of this Dicastery, but with its own staff and constitution. In 2017 then Msgr Kennedy (he became an Archbishop last September) was appointed head of the disciplinary section at the CDF , becoming secretary of the newly named Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) in 2022 with responsibility for leading investigations into credible clerical child sex abuse allegations worldwide. Archbishop Kennedy is the highest-ranking Vatican official on clerical abuse cases. A line in the sand in all of this was drawn by Archbishop Kennedy himself last October when the Vatican's secretariat of state attempted to overrule his decision to laicise an Argentinian priest convicted by a church tribunal of child sexual abuse. His decision was countermanded by the secretariat, which placed the priest under restricted ministry instead. Archbishop Kennedy went to Pope Francis and countermanded the countermand. The archbishop's action was described by one Vatican commentator as 'without precedent in the modern era'. Pope Leo XIV has identified artificial intelligence as a focus of his papacy. Last Saturday, in his first formal address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV recalled how Leo XIII, with the 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum, addressed social consequences 'of the first great industrial revolution' and referred to the church's offer of 'social teaching' in response to 'the developments of artificial intelligence (AI)'. [ Pope Leo XIV sets out vision for papacy and cites AI as critical challenge facing humanity Opens in new window ] On Monday last, in his first public audience with the media, he again referenced AI, speaking about the requirement for 'responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity'. Few at the Vatican are as knowledgeable about AI and social media generally as Navan man and priest of the Dublin Archdiocese, Bishop Paul Tighe (67). He has worked in that area at the Vatican for 17 years. As secretary at the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education he was one of the main movers behind the Vatican document Antiqua et Nova: (Old and New) Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence, published with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in January. As he put it earlier this year, in a podcast for America magazine, 'AI can handle data better than we can but what AI cannot necessarily do is answer the deeper questions that we should be posing to that data: what is it to be human, what is intelligence, what is it that makes life worthwhile.' Bishop Paul Tighe, referred to by some commentators as 'the Vatican's media guru'. Photograph: Nick Warren/PA Speaking to The Irish Times, Bishop Tighe recalled how the late Pope Francis feared AI would serve 'the interests only of a powerful elite'. He has travelled widely in Africa, Asia, North America and Latin America advising church bodies working with social media and is a regular attender at the Web Summit and the Biennale in Venice. Bishop Tighe, referred to by some commentators as 'the Vatican's media guru', has become something of link man internationally between the Church and contemporary culture in its many expressions. Formerly director of the office for public affairs in the Archdiocese of Dublin, he was appointed secretary at the Vatican's Council for Social Communications in 2007 where he is responsible for the Church's contact with the media at an international level. He helped lead something of a digital revolution at the Vatican where he was part of the team that instigated the Pope's Twitter/X handle, @Pontifex and developed the popular ThePopeApp for mobile phones, as well as the website, which is considered invaluable for Vatican watchers. As part of his reforms of the Roman Curia in 2013, Pope Francis set up a commission chaired by the UK peer Chris Patten to reform communications at the Vatican, with Bishop Tighe as secretary. It led to the creation of a new secretariat for communications which oversees all of the Vatican's communications offices. He did not, however, manage to revolutionise how the Vatican tells the world about the election of a new pope with smoke emerging from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel. Speaking to the US Catholic Telegraph, Bishop Tighe said: 'Here we are talking about social media, digital media and new technologies, [while] in the church our biggest communications moment is delivered by smoke.' He, along with Cardinal Farrell and Archbishop Kennedy, are likely to feature in the Vatican's hierarchy for some time to come.
Euronews
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Pope Leo XIV reopens sealed papal apartment
In a significant move just under a week after his election, Pope Leo XIV has ordered the unsealing of the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace. The official reopening took place on 11 May, following the Regina Caeli prayer, in the presence of top Vatican officials, including Cardinal Kevin Farrell and Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Sealed since the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, the apartment's fate remains uncertain, as Pope Leo XIV has yet to confirm whether he will live there. The gesture, rich in symbolism, marks a key step in the transition of papal authority and raises questions about the new pontiff's approach to tradition and simplicity.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Conclave: The key players and terms involved in selecting a new Pope
A conclave to select the new head of the Catholic Church is now underway following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. The transition process involves an intricate series of rituals and has remained largely unchanged for 800 years. It governs the transfer of power for both the spiritual leader of the global Catholic Church and the head of the Vatican state. Understanding the key terminology surrounding this transition is crucial to navigating the news in the coming days. Here is the lowdown on the key terms and players involved in the conclave. Who is the Vatican camerlengo? This is the 'chamberlain', the cardinal in charge of formally verifying the pope's death, and then sealing his room and study. Between then and the election of the new pope, the camerlengo administers the 'goods and temporal rights' of the Holy See. The current one is the Irish-born American Cardinal Kevin Farrell. Who is in the College of Cardinals? There are 252 cardinals worldwide, and as a body, they are in charge of the Holy See's affairs in-between popes, albeit with limits. Of them, 135 are 'cardinal electors,' who gather in the Vatican to choose the new pope. For centuries, they have chosen one of their own. The vast majority of the electors — 108 — were made cardinals by Pope Francis, according to Vatican statistics. What is the conclave? This is the closed-door meeting of the cardinal electors to choose the new pope in the Sistine Chapel. Its name, literally "with a key,' was used in the 13th century to describe the process of locking up the cardinals until the election was completed. It must begin no more than 20 days after the death or resignation of a pope. The electors are sequestered from all outsiders for the duration; the last three popes were chosen within days. Who is the dean of the College of Cardinals? The current dean is Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. He is the head of the College of Cardinals who informs the rest of the cardinals and the ambassadors to the Holy See of the pope's death once he learns of it from the camerlengo. He convenes the conclave and presides as the electors take their oaths. Once a new pope is chosen, the dean asks him if he accepts and what name he wants to be called. What is the Domus Santa Marta? This Vatican guesthouse, built in 1996, specifically houses cardinals during a conclave and is used at other times as a hotel for visiting priests and Vatican officials. Pope Francis never moved out after he was elected pope, choosing to live in suite 201, rather than the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. What does 'extra omnes' mean? A Latin phrase for 'all out,' it's spoken by the master for papal liturgical celebrations, currently Italian Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to ask all those present except the cardinal electors to leave the Sistine Chapel to begin the voting process during the conclave. Why is the pope's ring called the fisherman's ring? Each pope gets this ring at the Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate. It bears this name because Jesus told St. Peter, the first pope, that he would be 'a fisher of men.' Until the 1990s, it was destroyed upon a pope's death. Now, it's 'annulled,' or marked in such a way that it can't be used as a seal. What are the General Congregations? This is the name given to the gathering of all members of the College of Cardinals after the pope's death and before the start of the conclave to discuss major church affairs. All cardinals who aren't infirm take part in this meeting in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. They also discuss preparations for the conclave, under oath and in secret. What does it mean when they say, 'Habemus Papam'? This Latin phrase translates to 'We have a pope.' These are the words used by the 'protodeacon' of the College of Cardinals to announce from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica that a new pope has been elected. He then says the new pope's birth name and the name he has chosen to use as pope, also in Latin. The current protodeacon is French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti. Who are the infirmarii? These are the three cardinals, chosen by a random drawing from the electors, who are charged with gathering the ballots of any electors who are ill during the conclave. What does Pope Francis' motto 'miserando atque eligendo' mean? This is Latin for 'having had mercy and choosing him' — a phrase that Francis chose as his motto when he was elevated to bishop and kept as his papal seal. It was drawn from the homilies of St. Bede the Venerable, an 8th-century monk. It comes from the Gospel narrative of St. Matthew, a tax collector whom Jesus called to follow him. Who are the revisers? These are the three cardinals, chosen by random drawing from the electors, who are charged with reviewing the ballots during the conclave. What is a rogito? This is the document, or 'deed,' listing key details of the pope's life and papacy that is placed in his coffin. It's written in Latin by the master for papal liturgical celebrations. A copy is kept in the Vatican archives. Who are the scrutineers? These are the three cardinals, chosen by random drawing from the electors, who are charged with reviewing each ballot and announcing it to the assembled conclave after each round of voting. They then tally the votes — to win the election, two-thirds of the votes are necessary — and they also burn the ballots. What does the saying 'sede vacante' mean? This is Latin for 'vacant seat,' the period between the pope's death or resignation and the election of a new one. What is St. Mary Major? This is the basilica in Rome where Pope Francis said he wants to be buried. Francis is breaking with the tradition of his predecessors who are buried inside the Vatican, saying he wanted to be near his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, a Byzantine-style painting of the Madonna draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus who in turn is holding a jeweled golden book. The icon is located in the church, first built in the 5th century and devoted to the Virgin Mary. In his will, Francis said he wanted a simple underground tomb with only 'Franciscus' written on it. What does the text 'Universi Dominici Gregis' contain? This Latin phrase means 'the Lord's whole flock.' It's the Vatican constitution that regulates the processes from a pope's death until a new one is elected. St. John Paul II issued it in 1996 during his papacy, and Pope Benedict XVI twice amended it, most significantly by removing John Paul's provision that after about 12 days of balloting a simple majority could elect a new pope rather than a two-thirds majority. If the conclave lasts that long, the top two vote-getters go to a runoff, with a two-thirds majority required to win. Neither of the top two candidates cast a ballot in the runoff. What does white or black smoke mean during a papal transition? After each round of voting in the Sistine Chapel, the ballots are burned in a special furnace to indicate the outcome to the outside world. If no pope is chosen, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar), and sulfur to produce black smoke. But if there is a winner, the burning ballots are mixed with potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin to produce the white smoke. Bells are also rung to further signal that there is a new pope.
Sky News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
When does the conclave start and how does it work?
The conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor begins on Wednesday. The cardinals have assembled in Rome and will soon be locked away in the Sistine Chapel, cut off from the outside world as they debate who should be the next head of the Catholic Church. The rituals of the event are elaborate and date back centuries. So how does the process work? Who is taking part in conclave? Of the 252 current cardinals, there are 133 who are eligible to vote (those under the age of 80): 52 from Europe; 23 from Asia; 20 from North America; 17 from Africa; 17 from South America; and four from Oceania. Italy has the most cardinals who can vote, with 17, while the US has 10 and Brazil has seven. The UK has three. Ahead of the conclave they swear an oath of secrecy, vowing to never divulge what takes place behind the conclave doors. The punishment for breaking it is excommunication. Cardinals also hand over their mobile phones before going into conclave, and don't get them back until the end. Cardinal Kevin Farrell - the Camerlengo, or chamberlain, who announced Francis's death - is the interim chief of the Catholic Church and is in charge of running the meetings. The conclave begins Once the conclave begins, the cardinals will not emerge from the Vatican until a new pope has been chosen. The word "conclave" comes from Latin, meaning "with key" - a reference to the isolation in which the cardinals are kept. Once everyone is inside the Sistine Chapel, it will be pronounced the "Extra Omnes!" (from Latin, meaning "Everyone else out!") and from that moment the cardinals won't have any contact with the outside world. For however long the conclave lasts, cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel and sleep in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse inside the Vatican, either walking between the two or taking a special bus. Anyone who tries to interfere with the conclave faces excommunication, officially being excluded from participation in the sacraments and services of the church. There will be one vote on the first day (Wednesday) and four votes on each subsequent day - two in the morning and two in the afternoon. How long can it last? The longest conclave lasted almost three years, between 1268 and 1271. Several have lasted only one day. The most recent conclaves - for Pope Francis in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope John Paul II in 1978 - all lasted less than three days. Except for the first day, when only one ballot is held, the cardinals hold four daily votes - two in the morning, two in the afternoon - until one candidate has a majority of two-thirds plus one. In this case the required number is 89. A variety of factors can influence who is ultimately picked for pontiff, and a number of factions within the cardinals are likely to be pushing for different candidates. How do we know if a decision has been reached? Yes, this is the black smoke, white smoke part. If the cardinals have not reached a majority, the cards and the tally sheets are placed in a stove and burned with an additive to produce black smoke, showing the outside world that a pope has not yet been chosen. 0:50 For black smoke, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar), and sulphur. For white smoke, the burning ballots are mixed with potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin. Watching for the tell-tale smoke arising from the top of the Sistine Chapel is a tradition, with Catholics crowding into St Peter's Square for the spectacle. If no result has been reached after three days, the sessions are suspended for a day to allow for prayer and discussion. More ballots are held until a two-thirds majority is reached. When enough cardinals have agreed on a candidate, he is asked if he accepts the papacy and by which name he wishes to be known. The ballots are burned as before, but with the recipe for white smoke to signal to the world that the Throne of St Peter will soon have a new occupant. New pope proclaimed The new pope then dons his new papal vestments - tailors keep large, medium and small sizes ready - and sits on a throne in the Sistine Chapel to receive the other cardinals who file up to pay homage and swear obedience to the church's new leader. The senior cardinal deacon then steps out on to the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica overlooking the square and announces in Latin: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam" (I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope) and reveals the cardinal's name and the name he has chosen. The new pope then appears on the balcony to deliver his first public pontifical greeting and bless the crowds in St Peter's Square. A few days later, he celebrates a mass that marks the beginning of his papal ministry.
Wall Street Journal
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
A Memo for the Camerlengo
As a Catholic, I pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance of the cardinal-electors as they enter the conclave to elect the next successor to St. Peter and the vicar of Christ on earth. If I were able, I'd have the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell , place on every cardinal-elector's seat a copy of Archbishop Chaput's 'What the Church Needs in the Next Pope' (Houses of Worship, May 2). If they heed his wise counsel, the Barque of Peter will once again be piloted by a worthy successor to the first pope himself. Robert R. Kaplan
