Last week saw the long-awaited nomination by Pope Francis of a head for the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Irish-born Bishop Kevin Farrell, who turns 70 next week, moves from his current post as head of the Diocese of Dallas, Texas to take up the reins of this newly created body.
The new dicastery emerges from the fusion of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family as part of the Pope’s ongoing reform and rationalisation of the Curia. From September 1 these offices cease to exist and are replaced by the new department, whose statutes were published in June. Its responsibility concerns life issues, pastoral care of the family and the role of the laity.
