Cardinal Kevin Farrell Oversees Transition After Pope Francis' Death

Following the death of Pope Francis, the process to select the next pope has begun, overseen by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo and a former Dallas bishop. Farrell's responsibilities include announcing the pope's death, organizing funeral rites, and managing the transition to the conclave, where eligible cardinals will vote in secrecy at the Vatican. Among those electors is Cardinal Mykola Bychok, a Ukrainian-born, Melbourne-based bishop who was recently elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis and is the youngest cardinal participating. While any cardinal under 80 can be chosen as the next pope, experts note that, despite Bychok's eligibility, the likelihood of a Ukrainian or Eastern Catholic being elected is low due to the predominance of Latin Church cardinals. The conclave is expected to convene within weeks, and its outcome will be signaled to the world by white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Bychok's appointment was celebrated in both Australia and Ukraine, reflecting his advocacy for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.