Brian Farrell (bishop)

Brian Farrell, LC (born 8 February 1944), is an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church. He was named a bishop and the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in December 2002.

Styles of
Brian Farrell
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop
Posthumous stylenone

Biography

Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland, and joined the Legion of Christ in 1961.[1] He was ordained a priest on 26 November 1969 in Rome.[1] From 1970 to 1976 he was the novice director in the Legionary seminary in Orange, Connecticut, US. He obtained his licentiate in philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University and his licentiate in theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and in 1981 earned a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. From 1981 to 2002 he worked in the offices of the Vatican's Secretariat of State, from 1999 as head of the English desk in the Office of General Affairs.[2][3][4] In 1985, as an official of the Secretariat, he opposed legislation to allow the sale of condoms in Ireland.[5]

On 19 December 2002 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Abitinae and Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.[1] He was consecrated a bishop on 6 January 2003 by Pope John Paul II.[6] Pope Francis confirmed his appointment to the Council on 19 February 2014.[7] As Secretary of the Council he is ex officio the Vice-President of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.[8]

In 2003 Farrell contributed an article to the catalogue for "The Tension of Origin,"[9] an exhibition of works by Italian artist Giovanni Bonaldi which engaged in Jewish-Christian dialogue through artistic expression.

In 2010 Farrell was one of four advisors to Archbishop Velasio De Paolis when De Paolis was Papal Delegate to the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ tasked with reorganizing that congregation.[10]

Brian Farrell is the older brother of Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, former Bishop of Dallas.[11]

References

  1. "Rinunce e Nomine, 19.12.2002" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. "A Missionary Church in a Divided World". Regnum Christi. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. "Legionary Is New Secretary of Council for Christian Unity". Zenit News Agency. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  4. Allen, Jr., John L. (18 December 2007). All the Pope's Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks. Crown Publishing Group. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-307-42349-8. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. McGarry, Patsy (2 February 2018). "Farrell brothers: The two most senior Irish clerics in the Vatican". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  6. "Profiles of Dozen New Bishops". Zenit. 6 January 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  7. "Rinunce e Nomine, 19.02.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  8. "The Gifts and the Calling of God are Irrevocable". vatican.va. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  9. The Tension of Origin, curated by Pierangelo Sequeri and Nadine Shenkar, 2003. Giovanni Bonaldi L'origine tesa / The Tension of Origin, archived from the original on 2 March 2014, retrieved 26 January 2016
  10. "Delegate's Letter to Legionaries of Christ". Zenit News Agency. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  11. Gaetan, Victor (26 March 2015). "The Bishops Farrell: An Answer to an Irish Mother's Prayers". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Marc Ouellet
Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
19 December 2002present
Succeeded by
incumbent


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