Pope names Cardinal Farrell next head of Vatican City high court June 2, 2023By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has named U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, to be the next president of the supreme court of Vatican City State. Until Pope Francis modified the judiciary of the city-state in April, the president of the court always was the prefect of the Apostolic Signature, the Holy See’s highest court. The current president is Cardinal Dominque Mamberti. The Vatican announced June 2 that Cardinal Farrell, 75, would become president of the Court of Cassation, as the Vatican’s highest civil court is known, beginning Jan. 1. The position is not a fulltime role. As judges on the court, Pope Francis named Cardinals Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Paolo Lojudice of Siena and Mauro Gambetti, the papal vicar for Vatican City. All four cardinals were appointed to five-year terms. The Court of Cassation is the highest court of appeals for Vatican City State and can interpret Vatican City law. In addition to serving as prefect of the dicastery, Cardinal Farrell also is camerlengo or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church. While the pope is alive, the job is basically just a title. But when a pope dies or resigns, the chamberlain is charged with sealing the papal apartments, chairing consultations about the papal funeral, making the practical preparations for the conclave to elect the next pope, and chairing a committee of cardinals that takes care of the church’s ordinary affairs until a new pope is elected. Read More Vatican News ANALYSIS: Will President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV have electoral implications? Anglicans, Catholics must work to overcome differences, pope tells archbishop of Canterbury Pope Leo XIV advances sainthood causes, including Dutch nun who served in Missouri Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage, family gains urgency amid declining birth rates in West Radio Interview: Pope Leo XIV’s biographer shares insights on the Augustinian who became pope Pope Leo to new priests: Keep Church door open, don’t be an obstacle Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
