Changes in Roman Curia: Dallas bishop named prefect of new dicastery

August 17, 2016

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas as prefect of the Vatican’s new Dicastery for Laity, the Family, and Life.

The Pope has also issued a motu proprio, Sedula Mater, formally establishing the new dicastery, which he had announced in June. [See today's separate CWN headline story.]

Born in Dublin in 1947, Kevin Farrell was ordained a priest of the Legionaries of Christ in 1978. Six years later he left the Legionaries to become a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington. St. John Paul II named him auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2001, and Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Dallas in 2007.

Pope Francis has also named Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, as the new president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, whose activities fall under the purview of the new dicastery. Archbishop Paglia, 71, succeeds Bishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, 73, the Opus Dei prelate who has led the academy since 2010.

Pope Francis also named Archbishop Paglia the grand chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, succeeding Cardinal Agostino Vallini, 76.

Finally, Pope Francis has named the Milanese theologian Msgr. Pierangelo Sequeri, 71, as the new president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. He succeeds Msgr. Livio Melina, 63.

The August 17 announcement from the Vatican did not mention a new post for Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, the Polish prelate who has been president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity since 2003. Cardinal Rylko-- who at 71 is well short of normal retirement age-- will probably receive a new assignment soon.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Rinunce e nomine, 17.08.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope establishes new Vatican Congregation for laity, family, and life (CWN, 6/6)