N.B. How many millions did the K of C spend on the disastrous and scandalous “Rapenik” mosaics covering every wall of their DC JPII chapel, which are now completely covered in shame?
Leo XIV Appoints to Vatican Former CIA Analyst - $1.9M CEO of Knights of Columbus
Kelly has moved during his career through the U.S. military, congressional intelligence oversight, the State Department.
CIA for Five Years
Kelly worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for five years as an analyst after graduating from Marquette University in 1985.
He subsequently graduated from Marquette Law School, served as a Navy JAG, worked at the Justice Department's Office of Intelligence and Policy Review, and became legislative counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
At the Intelligence Committee, his chief responsibility was the annual Intelligence Authorization Act.
From Washington to Catholic Institutional Leadership
After Kelly's CIA/DOJ/House Intelligence work, he served at the State Department as senior adviser on international religious freedom and was its principal interlocutor with the Holy See. Then, in 2006, he moved directly into the Knights as VP for Public Policy.
Kelly became member of the board of the Knights of Columbus in 2013 and Deputy Supreme Knight in 2017. In 2021, he succeeded Carl Anderson as CEO, completing a 15-year rise through the organization's senior ranks.
Kelly accumulated senior positions in several major American Catholic institutions. He chaired the March for Life Education and Defense Fund from August 2012 until March 2021.
$1.9 Million in Reported Compensation
The latest publicly available IRS-derived filing for the Knights of Columbus reports $1,851,231 in reportable compensation for Kelly as “Director/Supreme Knight,” plus $50,356 in “other compensation”.
His reported compensation has risen considerably since he became Supreme Knight:
2021 $1,159,239
2022 $1,639,096
2023 $1,417,331
2024 $1,851,231
Founded in 1882 as a Catholic fraternal benefit society with a particular mission of protecting widows and orphans, the Knights today combine their activities with a vast insurance and investment operation. The latest filing reports approximately $31.2 billion in assets, $28.1 billion in liabilities and $3.08 billion in net assets.
Seven-figure compensation for the Supreme Knight predates Kelly. His predecessor, Carl Anderson, also received compensation packages reaching or exceeding these levels.
Access to the Vatican
As Supreme Knight, Kelly had regular direct access to Pope Francis: in October 2021, April 2022, April 2023, January 2024 and December 2024. Kelly used the meetings to brief Francis on Knights initiatives including humanitarian relief in Ukraine, evangelization, charitable programs and Catholic formation.
Kelly met the future Leo XIV in 2023, shortly after Prevost became prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
Following Prevost's election on May 8, 2025, Kelly issued an unusually expansive statement of institutional loyalty. Speaking for the Knights, he declared: “I pledge our loyalty to Pope Leo XIV,” and said, “The Knights of Columbus will always stand in solidarity with Pope Leo XIV.” Kelly added the new pope's priorities would shape the organization itself: “As it was with his predecessors, the pastoral priorities of Pope Leo XIV will guide and inform everything we do.”
Leo XIV received Kelly in an audience in July 2025 and again in October.
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