The Most Reverend, Dr.

Brian Farrell

LC LPhil LTh DTh
Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
ChurchRoman Catholic
SeeAbitinae
Appointed19 December 2002
Installed6 January 2003 (Abitinae)
PredecessorMarc Ouellet
Other post(s)Vice-president of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews
Orders
Ordination26 November 1969
Consecration6 January 2003
by Pope John Paul II
Personal details
Born8 February 1944
Drimnagh, Dublin, Ireland
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Styles of
Brian Farrell
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleBishop

Brian Farrell LC (born 8 February 1944) is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who has served as secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity since 2002.

Early life and education

Farrell was born in Drimnagh, Dublin on 8 February 1944. He is the older brother of Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and Bishop Emeritus of Dallas.[1][2][3]

Farrell entered the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1961, studying at the congregation House of Studies in Salamanca, Spain, until 1963, and continuing his training at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and in the United States.[4]

He was ordained a priest for the Legionaries of Christ on 26 November 1969.[3]

Presbyteral ministry

Following ordination, Farrell served as director of the Legionaries of Christ seminary in Orange, Connecticut, United States, before returning to Rome to complete a licentiate in philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a subsequent licentiate in theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.[4]

He subsequently returned to the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he completed a doctorate in dogmatic theology in 1981 with a thesis on Communicatio in Sacris: A Theological Study of the Policy Adopted by the Second Vatican Council, under the direction of Karl Becker.[4]

Between 1 October 1981 and 19 December 2002, Farrell worked at the Holy See Secretariat of State, becoming the head of the English desk in its Office of General Affairs on 1 January 1999.[5][6][7] As an official of the Secretariat of State, he opposed the Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Act 1985, permitting the sale of condoms in Ireland without having to present a prescription.[1]

Episcopal ministry

Farrell was appointed secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and titular bishop-elect of Abitinae by Pope John Paul II on 19 December 2002. He was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on 6 January 2003 at St Peter's Basilica, Rome.[3][8]

His appointment was subsequently confirmed by Pope Francis on 19 February 2014.[9] As secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Farrell is also the ex officio vice-president of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.[10]

In 2003, he contributed an article to the catalogue for "The Tension of Origin", an exhibition of works by Italian artist Giovanni Bonaldi which engaged in Judaeo-Christian dialogue through artistic expression.[11]

In 2010. Farrell was one of four advisors to Velasio de Paolis when de Paolis was the papal delegate tasked with reorganising the Legionaries of Christ.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 McGarry, Patsy (2 February 2018). "Farrell brothers: The two most senior Irish clerics in the Vatican". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Gaetan, Victor (26 March 2015). "The Bishops Farrell: An Answer to an Irish Mother's Prayers". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rinunce e nomine, 19.12.2002" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Secretary". Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "A Missionary Church in a Divided World". Regnum Christi. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Legionary Is New Secretary of Council for Christian Unity". Zenit News Agency. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Profiles of Dozen New Bishops". Zenit. 6 January 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "Rinunce e nomine, 19.02.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ 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
  12. ↑ "Delegate's Letter to Legionaries of Christ". Zenit News Agency. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2016.


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