Bishop Kevin Farrell Archives

Comfort level with dialogue a U.S. gift to the universal Church

Oct 19, 2016

All three new American cardinals set to be elevated by Pope Francis on Nov. 19 bring strong backgrounds in ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue, but in reality there’s little remarkable about that, since the pope could have thrown darts at a dartboard in the US and come up with much the same thing.

With Pope’s cardinal picks, Bernardin’s ‘seamless garment’ is back

Oct 9, 2016

By naming Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and Kevin Farrell, formerly of Dallas, as cardinals, Pope Francis has moved the senior leadership of the American Catholic Church to a centrist, non-cultural warrior stance reminiscent of the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s “seamless garment.”

Pope to create 13 new cardinals, including 3 Americans

Oct 9, 2016

Pope Francis announced a consistory for the creation of new cardinals on Nov. 19, and this time around there are three Americans: Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, and Kevin Farrell of Dallas, who was just named to head the pope’s new department on Family, Laity and Life.

New aide says Francis wants to hear laity, not just bishops and priests
- Aug 22, 2016
Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas initially thought it was a prank when he was told in May that Pope Francis was on the line, but it was really him, telling Farrell to head up a new Vatican department. In part, his marching orders are to make sure lay people hold prominent Vatican positions, and to help the pope hear directly from the laity.

By Crux Staff
Dallas bishop vows to focus on laity in new Vatican post
- Aug 18, 2016
Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell, named on Wednesday by Pope Francis to lead a new Vatican department for laity, family and life issues, said at a news conference, Wednesday afternoon: “I have always had in mind that in the Church, lay people needed to play an important role.”

By Associated Press
Pope’s choice for new Vatican post boosts moderates, Americans
- Aug 17, 2016
By choosing Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas as the first-ever head of his new department for family, laity, and life issues, Pope Francis has handed a big win to pastoral moderates in the Church and also laid to rest concerns that he’s somehow hostile to Americans.

By John L. Allen Jr.