The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, welcomed the news that Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell of Dallas, has been appointed as the first prefect of the Vatican’s new Laity, Family, and Life dicastery.
Archbishop Kurtz’s statement follows:
The Holy See’s new Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life gained a prefect with deep pastoral roots and strong administrative skill. Our prayers are with Bishop Farrell as he prepares for this new role in service to the universal Church.
On making the appointment, Pope Francis wrote that the Dicastery is to ensure «the riches of Jesus Christ are poured out appropriately and with profusion among the faithful.» Most recently, Bishop Farrell led the faithful of Dallas in an outpouring of love in response to the terrible violence. I am also grateful for his service to the USCCB as treasurer, where his leadership set the highest standards of good stewardship.
From our time together on the USCCB Administrative Committee, I have come to know Bishop Farrell not only as a good bishop, but also as a good friend. While we will miss him as a member of our Conference, I am excited to see how Bishop Farrell will bring the new Dicastery to life in service to families around the world. We look forward to being active supporters of this important work.
