Pope Francis made the announcement on Sunday, 9 October: "On Saturday, November 19th, the eve of the closing of the Holy Door of Mercy, I will hold a Consistory for the creation of 13 new cardinals from the five continents. The fact that they come from 11 different countries expresses the universality of the Church, which proclaims and bears witness to the Good News of God's Mercy in every corner of the earth. The inclusion of the new Cardinals in the diocese of Rome also manifests the indissoluble bond between the See of Peter and the particular Churches throughout the world."
We address our hearty congratulations to Msgr. Farrell and assure him especially of our prayer for a ministry according to the Lord's plan and will, so that—as Pope Francis said—"the inclusion of the new Cardinals in the diocese of Rome also manifests the indissoluble bond between the See of Peter and the particular Churches spread throughout the world."
Biography
Msgr. Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life (USA).
H.E. Msgr. Kevin Joseph Farrell was born on 2 September 1947 in Dublin (Ireland). After completing primary and secondary school, he attended the University of Salamanca in Spain, and then the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He received the license in philosophy and theology at the University of St. Thomas in Rome. Later, he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration at the University of Notre-Dame (USA). He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained a priest on 24 December 1978.
After ordination, he served as chaplain at the University of Monterrey in Mexico; Professor of Economic Studies, General Director with responsibility for the seminars and schools of the Legionaries of Christ in Italy, Spain, and Ireland. In 1983 he began exercising his pastoral ministry in Saint Bartholomew Parish in Bethesda, Washington.
In 1984, he was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Washington, where he held the following positions: assistant pastor in St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (1984-1985); Director of the Spanish Catholic Center (1986); Executive Director Regent of the Catholic Charitable Organizations (1987-1988); Secretary for Financial Affairs (1989-2001); and Pastor of Annunciation Parish (2000-2002).
Named Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington and Titular of Rusuccuru on 28 December 2001, he was consecrated on 11 February 2002. Since 2001, he has been Vicar General for Administration and Moderator of the Curia.
On 6 March 2007, he was named Bishop of Dallas.
On 15 August 2016, Pope Francis called him to work in the Roman Curia, naming him Prefect of the new Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life.
