This was the moment when the Vatican officially declared the See vacant. The papal apartments, as well as the pope's room in Santa Marta, were sealed.
It is a ritual which, in a symbolic way, guarantees that everything that belongs to the pope, including his documents, are securely kept.
Present were Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the substitute of the Secretariat of State, and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo.
If anyone bears the burden of responsibility in the vacant see, it is him. It is one of the few positions that does not cease after the death of the pope. The Camarlengo's, or Chamberlain's, task is to administer the goods of the Holy See until the election of the new pope.
Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell was chosen directly by Pope Francis. This was his reaction when he was appointed in 2019.
ARCHIVE, 2019
CARD. KEVIN FARREL
Prefect, Dicastery Laity, Family and Life
So what can I say? To be quite honest with you, I have never thought of anything like this. I will confess that I really don't even know the details of what the Camerlengo does, and, but I'm sure there will be somebody who will coach me and tell me exactly what I'm supposed to do.
Until now, Cardinal Kevin Farrell was Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. Now, he is technically, and legally, the head of Vatican City State.
JH
