Cardinals from all over the world have begun convening in Rome to prepare to hold a conclave to select a successor for Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. As the Catholic Church stands at a pivotal transition, eyes turn to the men who will eventually select its new leader — but what is a cardinal, anyway?
High dignitaries of the Catholic Church
A cardinal, from the Latin cardinalis, meaning “principal”, is one of the top officials of the Catholic Church, appointed by the pope to help govern. Most of the important dicasteries, the equivalent of government ministries within the Vatican, are led by cardinals. They have the official title of “Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church.”
Organized into the College of Cardinals, they have a dean — now the 91-year-old Italian Giovanni Battista Re — and constitute the pinnacle of Catholic leadership. Although cardinal is a title more than a defined position, a majority of cardinals are bishops stationed in various parts of the world, and some reside in Rome, exercising important posts within the Curia, the Church’s central government.
The Pope-makers
Of the 252 cardinals that exist today, only those below the age of 80, or “cardinal electors,” are actually allowed to cast a vote for a new pope. There are 135 such electors.
The conclave is convened within the Sistine Chapel where the election happens under strict ceremonial and secrecy that has not greatly changed over the centuries. Once the cardinals have finished conducting the mourning ceremonies for Francis, the conclave will commence.
Created, not named
Cardinals are not appointed; they are “created” by a unique papal bull. The word, derived from Roman usage, means that the recipient is promoted in rank because of his individual merits, not because he is assigned to an empty office.
Under Vatican regulations, the pope may create cardinals from among men who are “truly outstanding in doctrine, virtue, piety and prudence in practical matters.”
The importance of Cardinal Red
Cardinals can be identified easily by their scarlet red vestments — a color formerly emblematic of the power of the Roman Senate, now symbolizing the blood of Christ and readiness to die for the Church.
They have a sapphire ring, a pectoral cross, a crosier (a ceremonial staff), and a mitre (a ceremonial headdress) as part of their formal wear.
A political appointment
The appointment of cardinals is not only a religious choice but also a very political one. Each pope exercises his appointing power to determine the future of the Church.
Pope Francis significantly increased the College of Cardinals by appointing men from the “peripheries” — areas historically underrepresented by Rome — in order to make the Church more representative of the global, worldwide nature of Catholicism and to influence the election of his successor.
Declining privileges
In spite of their standing, the privileges cardinals once took for granted have been progressively eroded. Cardinals — who are formally addressed as “Eminence” — are just below the pope and can say Mass in any church outside Rome. They also have the right to be interred inside churches.
But dramatic changes started coming into effect after the Second Vatican Council, which took away cardinals’ indulgences like private train compartments and throne rooms in their houses.
Pope Francis took it a step further: in 2021, he directed a reduction in cardinals’ salaries to compensate for losses incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic, and in 2023, he abolished the tradition of providing them rent-free apartments within Vatican City.
As the world observes Rome, attention has shifted to these influential leaders — who they are, how they were selected, and how they will define the next chapter of the Catholic Church.
