5 things to know about Cardinal Kevin Farrell, man leading Vatican until a new pope is elected

Said same-sex couples deserve 'pastoral care'

In 2021, Farrell defended the idea that same-sex couples should receive pastoral care from churches, even as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had recently stated that the blessing of same-sex unions is "illicit."

"Nobody must ever be excluded from the pastoral care and love and concern of the church," said Farrell during an online Vatican news conference at the time, as quoted by Catholic News Service.

"I think that it is very important that we all understand that the pastoral life of the church is open to all people. … It is essential and very important that we always open our arms to receive and to accompany all people in their different stages of life and in their different life situations."

Farrell drew a parallel between ministering to same-sex couples and ministering to people who are divorced and remarried, noting that the Church "will accompany them with the hope that one day they will live totally in accordance with the church's teaching."