Cardinal (Catholicism)

A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope and appointed by him as a member of the College of Cardinals during a consistory. The duties of the cardinals are to attend the meetings of the Sacred College and to make themselves available individually if the Pope desires their counsel. Most cardinals have additional duties either leading many of the church's dioceses and archdioceses or running the Roman Curia.

Related Topics:
Ecclesiastical - Roman Catholic Church - Pope - College of Cardinals - Consistory - Diocese - Archdiocese - Roman Curia

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Excluding the rochet, which is always white, a cardinal wears scarlet garments when in choir, including the cassock, mozzetta, zucchetto, and biretta. His normal-wear simar is black but has scarlet sash and trim. He wears a ring which is traditionally kissed by Catholics when he is greeted. The bright red color of the scarlet symbolizes a cardinal's willingness to die for his faith.

Related Topics:
Rochet - Scarlet - Choir - Cassock - Mozzetta - Zucchetto - Biretta - Simar

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Upon a pope's death, the college runs the church during the vacancy in the papacy; those under 80 years old are also responsible for electing the next Pope.

Related Topics:
Vacancy in the papacy - Electing the next Pope

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Pope Sixtus V limited the number of cardinals to 70 (six cardinal bishops, 50 cardinal priests, 14 cardinal deacons). In 1975, Pope Paul VI created the age limit on electors and raised the limit to 120 cardinal electors. But the numerical limitations have been frequently disregarded in order to make the College of Cardinals a more representative body. Pope John Paul II elevated an additional 31 cardinals in a consistory on October 21, 2003, bringing the number of cardinals at that time to 194. As of John Paul II's death, 117 of the then-current 183 cardinals were young enough to be electors.

Related Topics:
Pope Sixtus V - Cardinal bishop - Cardinal priest - Cardinal deacon - Pope Paul VI - Pope John Paul II - Consistory - October 21 - 2003

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The term "cardinal" derives from the Latin cardo, or hinge, suggesting the fulcrum-like leadership role they play. Because of the red color of their vestments, cardinals are the namesakes for the bird of the same name.

Related Topics:
Latin - Hinge - Fulcrum - Vestment - Namesake - Bird of the same name

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