Cardinal Secretary of State

The Cardinal Secretary of State presides over the Vatican Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia. As one of the senior offices in the Roman Catholic Church, the Secretary is required to be a cardinal. If the office is vacant, a non-cardinal may serve as Pro-Secretary of State, exercising the powers of the Secretary of State until a suitable replacement is found or the Pro-Secretary is made a cardinal in a subsequent consistory.

Related Topics:
Secretariat of State - Dicastery - Roman Curia - Roman Catholic Church - Cardinal - Consistory

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The Cardinal Secretary is regarded as being in charge of the political and diplomatic activities of the Holy See. Since Vatican City is administered by the Holy See, the Cardinal Secretary of State is also referred to as being the Vatican's "prime minister".

Related Topics:
Holy See - Vatican City - Prime minister

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The Cardinal Secretary's term ends sede vacante. During this period, the former Secretary acts as a member of a commission with the Cardinal Camerlengo and the former President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, which exercises some of the functions of the head of state of the Vatican City until a new Pope is elected. Once the new Pope is chosen, the former Secretary's role in the commission likewise expires, though he can be (and usually is) re-appointed as Secretary of State.

Related Topics:
Sede vacante - Cardinal Camerlengo - President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State - Head of state

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