Irish-born cardinal announces Pope Francis’s death

An Irish-born cardinal made the announcement to the world that Pope Francis had died.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, 77, confirmed that the head of the Catholic Church had died on Easter Monday after bouts of ill health including pneumonia.

Cardinal Farrell is camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, a key role during “sede vacante”, the period when the Church is without a pope.

Kevin Joseph Farrell was born on September 2nd, 1947 in Dublin and lived on Galtymore Park in Drimnagh, Dublin.

At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome,…
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025

After finishing primary and secondary school, he attended the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, before being ordained as a priest on…