Cardinal Kevin Farrell has become a household name since Pope Francis’ passing.
He serves as the “camerlengo,” who is the acting head of the Vatican, until a new pope is elected. In this role, Cardinal Farrell is also preparing the upcoming conclave, set to begin on May 7.
Catholic Extension Society had the joy of honoring him with our Spirit of Francis Award in Dallas in 2023, which recognizes those who have made a significant impact on the mission of the Catholic Church in America through service or philanthropy.
Cardinal Farrell is pictured in the center, below, with our president, Father Jack Wall (right) and chancellor, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago (left).
Cardinal Farrell served as the bishop of Dallas from 2007 to 2016, a city which the Irish-born prelate still considers his home, even though he left it almost a decade ago to serve in Rome.
As shown in the video below, the evening was an emotional reunion for Cardinal Farrell.
“I have left many different countries in my lifetime. Nothing, I can assure you, has cost me as much as leaving Dallas has,” he said before he left for Rome in 2016. Pope Francis made him a cardinal that year and selected him to lead the newly established Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.
As we approach the conclave, these 10 quotes and clips from our Spirit of Francis dinner, as well as from his farewell message before he left Dallas in 2016, offer insight into the priorities, values and character of the very capable and very beloved-back-home interim leader of the Vatican.
Cardinal Farrell’s vision for living the Gospel today
If we want love from God, if we want mercy, we must show love and we must show mercy to others. To me that is the most fundamental of principles of the Christian faith.”
Unless we live with respect for each other and unless we have that passion and that mercy and compassion and understanding of each other, we’re going nowhere, we’re going down.”
God cares about how we deal with each other.”
How have we arrived to such a point of hatred in our world today, in our communities? We have a beautiful place. We have a beautiful world. We have a beautiful city. But what we don’t have is a care, a love, and an understanding for all people.”
Cardinal Farrell’s Observations About the pastoral leadership of Pope Francis
I can tell you something, he doesn’t like to be in his office. He loves to be with people. Many occasions, Wednesday is the day he has public audiences when he goes out into the square. He wants to be with the people. I have had occasions to where I have an appointment with him at eight o’clock in the morning on a Wednesday, which is one hour before that Jeep arrives and he goes out into the square. He no more listened to me than anybody. Why? … He wasn’t interested in what I had to say. He was interested in going into the square.”
Pope Francis, I can tell you, his mission in this Church of ours, in this life, is to teach us how to live each and every day as Christians.”
I hear tourists who have tickets to the audience complain that the Pope is already in the audience when they get to the square, because he always begins 30 minutes before the appointed time. It is that love, that concern for everybody that he has. That’s what the world needs today.”
I think that the Catholic Extension Society is a part of that mission of Pope Francis. He cares about the universal church. He cares about the church everywhere.”
How Dallas shaped Cardinal Farrell
[Pope Francis] didn’t know where Dallas was until I got there. And then he shut me up many times. He told me that I always talk about Dallas as being the most important and the best Catholic community in the United States.”
The people [of Dallas] work together. Imagine what they can do to help the Church. And to help the Extension Society. So I thank you all. I thank you for this honor that I do not deserve. And I accept it in the name of all the people [of Dallas] because you guys made me who I am.”
Sometimes it is helpful to know the quality and the personality of people at the helm. We believe that the Vatican is in good hands while we await our next pope!
Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Support our mission here.
