A cardinal is a senior member of the Catholic Church appointed by the pope. Cardinals form the College of Cardinals, which assists the pope and has a central role in choosing a new pope when the papal office becomes vacant.
Is a cardinal a separate level of ordination?
No. Cardinal is an ecclesiastical dignity and office, not a separate sacramental order. The sacramental orders are bishop, priest, and deacon. Most cardinals today are bishops, although church law allows the pope to appoint a priest as cardinal; normally a priest appointed cardinal is to receive episcopal consecration unless a dispensation is granted.
Who appoints cardinals?
The pope freely selects new cardinals and formally creates them in a consistory. Cardinals come from many countries and may serve as diocesan bishops, leaders of offices of the Holy See, or in other senior roles.
What does the College of Cardinals do?
Canon law describes the cardinals as a special college that assists the Roman Pontiff. They may advise the pope individually through offices they hold or collectively when called together for important matters.
During a vacancy of the papacy, the College also has responsibilities defined by church law. Cardinals who meet the eligibility rules take part in the conclave that elects the next pope.
Cardinal bishops, priests, and deacons
The College of Cardinals is divided into three orders: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons. These categories have historical roots in the clergy and churches of Rome. They should not be confused with a cardinal’s sacramental ordination.
Why do cardinals have Roman titles?
Many cardinals are assigned a titular church or diaconia in Rome. This reflects the historical connection between the College of Cardinals and the Church of Rome, even though cardinals now come from across the world.
What does a cardinal wear?
Cardinals are associated with red vesture in Catholic ceremonial life. The color has traditionally been linked with readiness to serve the Church faithfully, even at personal cost. Clothing varies according to liturgical and formal context.
The office of cardinal is therefore best understood through its legal and pastoral functions: service to the pope and the wider Catholic Church, membership in the College of Cardinals, and participation in papal elections according to the rules in force.
Are all cardinals in Rome?
No. Many cardinals lead dioceses or archdioceses around the world, while others work in offices connected with the Holy See. Their membership in the College of Cardinals links them to the Church of Rome, but their ordinary ministry may take place elsewhere.
Cardinals and a papal vacancy
When a pope dies or resigns, the governance of the Catholic Church during the vacancy is limited by special law. The College of Cardinals cannot simply exercise the pope’s full authority. Its best-known responsibility is preparing for and conducting the election of a successor through a conclave, with voting eligibility determined by the rules in force.
Is every important bishop a cardinal?
No. A bishop or archbishop does not automatically become a cardinal. The pope chooses cardinals. Some major dioceses have often been led by cardinals, but historical patterns do not create a permanent legal entitlement to the title.
