camerlengo
noun
cam·er·len·go
ˌka-mər-ˈleŋ-(ˌ)gō 
plural camerlengos
: a cardinal who is appointed by the pope and charged with specific duties (such as certifying the pope's death and preparing a conclave) during a papal interregnum
The night before the funeral, the camerlengo presides over the closing and sealing of the coffin, in the presence of other senior cardinals.—
Nicole Winfield
Nicole WinfieldExamples of camerlengo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Farrell was appointed camerlengo by Pope Francis in 2019, replacing French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran following his death, according to the Catholic News Service.
—James Powel, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
He was nominated as camerlengo in 2019, appointed as president of the Commission for Confidential Matters in 2020 and appointed as president of the Vatican City State Supreme Court effective January 2024.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Who Is the Camerlengo? The camerlengo, or chamberlain, is the Vatican official tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Holy See during the sede vacante—the period between the death of a pope and the election of a successor.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
There's a name for the person with that job: the camerlengo.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
The camerlengo also administers the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See until a new pope is chosen.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
The camerlengo, or chamberlain of the Vatican, assumes temporary authority until a new pope is elected.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin for Pope Francis on Friday night, ahead of the papal funeral Saturday morning, according to the Vatican.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025
As the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Farrell will effectively serve as interim pope until a new pope is picked.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
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James Powel, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
He was nominated as camerlengo in 2019, appointed as president of the Commission for Confidential Matters in 2020 and appointed as president of the Vatican City State Supreme Court effective January 2024.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Who Is the Camerlengo? The camerlengo, or chamberlain, is the Vatican official tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Holy See during the sede vacante—the period between the death of a pope and the election of a successor.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
There's a name for the person with that job: the camerlengo.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
The camerlengo also administers the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See until a new pope is chosen.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
The camerlengo, or chamberlain of the Vatican, assumes temporary authority until a new pope is elected.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin for Pope Francis on Friday night, ahead of the papal funeral Saturday morning, according to the Vatican.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025
As the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Farrell will effectively serve as interim pope until a new pope is picked.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Camerlengo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camerlengo. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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