Cardinals of the Catholic Church
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| Cardinals of the Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cardinals of the Catholic Church |
| Caption | Red biretta and mozzetta traditionally associated with cardinals |
| Type | Ecclesiastical office |
| Founded | 11th century (formalization) |
| Founder | Pope Urban II (development), Pope Nicholas II (investiture reforms) |
| Jurisdiction | Holy See |
| Headquarters | Apostolic Palace, Vatican City |
| Leader title | Dean |
| Leader name | Dean of the College of Cardinals |
Cardinals of the Catholic Church are senior ecclesiastical leaders, clerics, and princes of the Church who serve as principal advisors to the Pope and as electors in a papal conclave. Historically emerging from Roman clergy and the papal curia, cardinals now include diocesan bishops, curial officials, and titular clerics drawn from around the world, linked to the Holy See, Apostolic Palace, and the institutions of Vatican City.
History
Cardinalate origins trace to the clergy of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano, and the Roman deaconries in the early medieval period, interacting with figures like Pope Gregory I and institutions such as the Roman Curia, Lateran Council developments, and reforms under Pope Nicholas II (1059) that reshaped papal election by the Roman clergy and nobility. The role evolved through the Gregorian Reform, the influence of the Holy Roman Empire, and conflicts like the Investiture Controversy and the Avignon Papacy, involving actors such as Pope Urban II and cardinals who participated in the First Crusade councils. The College's structure adjusted after councils including the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council, and 20th-century reforms by Pope Pius X, Pope John XXIII, and Pope Paul VI altered composition, age limits, and duties amid interactions with the Second Vatican Council and institutions like the Roman Curia and the Dicastery for Bishops.
Role and Duties
Cardinals serve as principal counselors to the Pope within bodies such as the Roman Curia, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Bishops, and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. They often govern major sees like the Archdiocese of Milan, the Archdiocese of Paris, the Archdiocese of New York, or head dicasteries such as the Secretariat of State and oversee relations with states via the Holy See's diplomatic service including the Apostolic Nunciature network. Cardinals preside at consistories, participate in ecumenical dialogues with leaders from the Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and representatives of the World Council of Churches, and may be assigned to lead commissions on liturgy, doctrine, and administration linked to documents such as those promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
Appointment and Eligibility
The Pope appoints cardinals typically in a consistory; candidates include diocesan bishops from sees like São Paulo, Guadalajara, Accra, and curial officials from bodies such as the Apostolic Signatura and the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. Canonical criteria derive from the Code of Canon Law and precedent set by popes including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. While historically cardinals were often Roman clergy attached to titular churches like San Lorenzo in Lucina and deaconries, modern appointments reflect global representation from continents including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, sometimes honoring prelates from dioceses such as Lagos, Manila, Buenos Aires, and Kiev.
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals organizes into the orders of cardinal-bishops, cardinal-priests, and cardinal-deacons, with governance roles including the Dean of the College of Cardinals and the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. The College interfaces with the Roman Curia, convenes in consistories at the Apostolic Palace or St. Peter's Basilica, and historically has been shaped by figures like Cardinal Richelieu, Cardinal Mazarin, and modern leaders such as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The College's membership limits and electoral rules have been modified by popes including Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II to balance continuity with pastoral needs across institutions like the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Rank and Precedence
Cardinals are ranked as cardinal-bishops, cardinal-priests, and cardinal-deacons, with seniority affecting precedence in liturgical functions at sites like St. Peter's Basilica and in ceremonies led by the Pope. Cardinal-bishops historically held suburbicarian sees such as Ostia and Velletri, while cardinal-priests and cardinal-deacons maintain titular churches and deaconries in Rome like Santa Maria in Trastevere and San Nicola in Carcere. Precedence also intersects with national hierarchies in episcopal conferences, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Italian Episcopal Conference, and bodies in countries such as Brazil, Poland, and Spain.
Papal Conclave and Election
Cardinals under the age of 80 at the death or resignation of a Pope convene in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, operating under apostolic constitutions such as those promulgated by Pope Paul VI and revised by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.Procedures involve the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, and roles for the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations and the Prefect of the Papal Household, with signaling traditions like white smoke or black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney and the announcement "Habemus Papam" from the Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica when a new pope such as Pope Francis or Pope Benedict XVI is chosen.
Insignia and Vestments
Cardinals are recognized by insignia including the red biretta, red zucchetto, and the mozzetta worn at liturgical ceremonies in St. Peter's Basilica and other cathedrals like Notre-Dame de Paris and Westminster Cathedral. Heraldic privileges include the red galero historically shown in ecclesiastical heraldry and the use of specific coats of arms recorded in compilations alongside those of figures like Pope Paul VI, Cardinal Newman, and Cardinal Wyszynski. Liturgical and choir dress correlate with roles in ceremonies presided over by the Pope and within venues such as the Lateran Basilica and the Vatican Basilica.