Egftnjytyk

Cardinals in red vestments during the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Part of a series on the
Catholic Church
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Overview
Pope: Francis Hierarchy History (Timeline) Theology Liturgy Sacraments Mary
Background Jesus Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension Early Christianity History of the Catholic Church History of the papacy Ecumenical councils Four Marks of the Church One true church Apostolic succession
Organisation Holy See College of Cardinals Ecumenical councils Episcopal polity Latin Church Eastern Churches Canon law
Theology Trinity Father Son Holy Spirit Ten Commandments Three States of the Church Purgatory Paschal mystery Passion Crucifixion Harrowing of Hell Resurrection Ascension Mary Mariology Veneration Immaculate Conception Theotokos Perpetual virginity Assumption Titles Josephology Morality Body Lectures Sexuality Apologetics Divine grace Salvation Original sin Saints Dogma Catechism
Philosophy Natural law Catholic ethics Personalism Social teaching Philosophers
Worship Liturgy Mass Divine Office Liturgical year Sacraments Baptism Penance Eucharist Confirmation Anointing of the Sick Matrimony Holy orders Prayer Devotions Bible Biblical canon
Rites Latin Roman Ordinary form Tridentine Anglican Use Zaire Use Gallican Ambrosian Braga Mozarabic Eastern Antiochene Maronite West Syriac Syro-Malankara Chaldean East Syriac Syro-Malabar Byzantine Armenian Alexandrian Ethiopic
Controversies Antipopes Anti-Catholicism Criticism Homosexuality Sex and gender roles Sexual abuse cases
Other topics Art Ecumenism Evolution Health care Monasticism Music Science Role in civilization Relations with: Islam Judaism Pandeism
Links and resources Index Outline Glossary Category Media Templates WikiProject Book Pope portal Vatican City portal
Catholicism portal
v t e

The College of Cardinals, formerly styled the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.^[1] Its membership is 222, as of 14 March 2019.^[update] Cardinals are appointed by the Pope for life. Changes in life expectancy partly account for the increases in the size of the College.^[2]

Since the emergence of the College of Cardinals in the Early Middle Ages, the size of the body has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils, and even the College itself. The total number of cardinals from 1099 to 1986 has been about 2,900 (excluding possible undocumented 12th century cardinals and cardinals appointed during the Western Schism by pontiffs now considered to be antipopes, and subject to some other sources of uncertainty), nearly half of whom were created after 1655.^[3]

History

See also: External cardinal § History

The word cardinal is derived from the Latin cardo, meaning "hinge". The office of cardinal as it is known today slowly evolved during the first millennium from the clergy of Rome. "The first time that the term cardinal appears in the Liber Pontificalis is in the biography of Pope Stephen III(IV) when in the Roman Synod of 769, it was decided that the Roman pontiff should be elected from among the deacons and cardinal priests."^[4]

In 845 the Council of Meaux "required Bishops to establish Cardinal titles or parishes in their towns and outlining districts".^[5] At the same time, the popes began referring to the cardinal priests of Rome to serves as legates and delegates within Rome at ceremonies, synods, councils, etc., as well as abroad on diplomatic missions and councils. Those who were assigned to the latter roles were given the titles of Legatus a latere (Cardinal Legate) and Missus Specialis (Special Missions).^[6]

During the pontificate of Stephen V (816-17), the three classes of the College that are present today began to form. Stephen decreed that all cardinal-bishops were bound to sing Mass on rotation at the high altar at St. Peter's Basilica, one per Sunday. The first class to form was that of the cardinal-deacons, direct theological descendants of the original seven ordained in Acts 6, followed by the cardinal-priests, and finally, the cardinal-bishops.^[6]

The College played an integral part in various reforms within the Church as well, as early as the pontificate of Pope Leo IX (1050). In the 12th century, the Third Lateran Council declared that only Cardinals could assume the papacy, a requirement that has since lapsed. In 1130, under Urban II, all the classes were permitted to take part in papal elections; up to this point, only cardinal-bishops had this role.^[6]

From the 13th to 15th centuries, the size of the College of Cardinals never exceeded thirty, although there were more than thirty parishes and diaconal districts which could potentially have a titular holder; Pope John XXII (1316–1334) formalized this norm by limiting the College to twenty members.^[7] In the ensuing century, increasing the size of the College became a method for the pope to raise funds for construction or war, cultivate European alliances, and dilute the strength of the College as a spiritual and political counterweight to papal supremacy.^[7]

The conclave capitulation of the papal conclave, 1352 limited the size of the College to twenty, and decreed that no new cardinals could be created until the size of the College had dropped to 16; however, Pope Innocent VI declared the capitulation invalid the following year.^[8][9]

By the end of the 14th century, the practice of solely Italian cardinals had ceased. Between the 14th century and 17th century, there was much struggle for the College between the cardinals of the day and the reigning popes. The most effective way for a pope to increase his power was to increase the number of cardinals, promoting those who had nominated him. Those cardinals in power saw these actions as an attempt to weaken their influence.

The Council of Basel (1431–1437, later transferred to Ferrara and then Florence) limited the size of the College to twenty-four,^[10] as did the capitulation of the papal conclave, 1464.^[11][12][13] The capitulations of the 1484 (Pope Innocent VIII)^[14] and 1513 (Pope Leo X) conclaves contained the same restriction.^[15] The capitulation of the papal conclave, 1492 also is known to have contained some restriction on the creation of new cardinals.^[16]

The Fifth Council of the Lateran (1512–1517), despite its lengthy regulation of the lives of cardinals, did not speak to the size of the College.^[10]

In 1517, Pope Leo X added another thirty-one cardinals, bringing the total to sixty-five so that he could have a supportive majority in the College of Cardinals. Paul IV brought the total to seventy. His immediate successor, Pope Pius IV (1559–1565), raised the limit to seventy-six.^[7] Although Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor sought a limit of 26 and complained about the size and quality of the College to his legates to the Council of Trent, and some French attendees advocated a limit of 24, that Council did not prescribe a limit to the size of the College.^[10] By the papacy of Sixtus V (1585–1590), the number was set at seventy on 3 December 1586, divided among fourteen cardinal-deacons, fifty cardinal-priests, and six cardinal-bishops.^[6]

Popes respected that limit until Pope John XXIII increased the number of cardinals several times to a high of 88 in January 1961^[17] and Pope Paul VI continued this expansion, reaching 134 at his third consistory in April 1969.^[18] The size of the College lost its significance when Paul decided to allow only cardinals under the age of 80 to vote in a conclave from 1971 onward.^[19][20][a] Then, in 1975, Paul set the maximum number of those under 80, the cardinal electors, at 120.^[23] His next consistory in 1976 brought the number of cardinal electors to its full complement of 120.^[24]

All three of Paul's successors have at times exceeded the 120 maximum. Pope John Paul II reiterated the 120 maximum in 1996,^[25][26] yet his appointments to the College resulted in more than 120 cardinal electors on 4 of his nine consistories, reaching a high of 135 in February 2001^[27] and again in October 2003.^[28][b] Three of Pope Benedict XVI's five consistories resulted in more than 120 cardinal electors, the high being 125 in 2012.^[31][32]Pope Francis has slightly exceeded the limit in all five of his consistories (as of 2018), reaching as high as 125 in February 2015^[33] and June 2018.^[34] However, the number of cardinal electors has never exceeded 120 yet at the time of a conclave.

Other changes to the College in the 20th century affected specific orders. In 1961 Pope John XXIII reserved to the pope the right to assign any member of College to one of the suburbicarian sees and the rank of cardinal bishop. Previously only the senior cardinal priest and the senior cardinal deacon had the privilege of requesting such an appointment (jus optionis) when a vacancy occurred.^[35] In 1962 he established that all cardinals should be bishops, ending the identification of the order of cardinal deacon with cardinals who were not bishops.^[36] He consecrated the twelve non-bishop members of the College himself.^[37][c] In February 1965, Pope Paul VI decided that an Eastern Rite Patriarch who is created a cardinal would no longer be assigned a titular church in Rome, but maintain his see and join the order of cardinal bishops, the rank previously reserved to the six cardinals assigned to the suburbicarian dioceses.^[40][41][d] He also required that the suburbicarian bishops elect one of themselves as the Dean and Vice-Dean of the College, instead of allowing them to select any member of the College.^[42][e] In June 2018, Pope Francis eased the rules governing the rank of cardinal bishop to open that rank to anyone of the pope's choosing, granting such cardinals the same privileges as those assigned suburbicarian sees.^[43]

The resignation or removal of members has been a relatively rare phenomenon. Between 1791 and 2018, only six members resigned or were removed from the College; Theodore Edgar McCarrick resigned in 2018, Louis Billot resigned in 1927, Carlo Odescalchi resigned in 1838, Marino Carafa di Belevedere resigned in 1807, Tommaso Antici resigned in 1798 and Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne was removed in 1791.^[44]

Historical data

For the Middle Ages, sources speaking to the size of the College of Cardinals are most frequently those relating to papal elections and conclaves.^[2]

Organization

Coat of arms style for cardinals.

As of 14 March 2019,^[update] the College has 222 members, 122 of whom are eligible to participate in a conclave.^[45] The group's size has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils, and even the College itself. From 1099 to 1986, the total number of cardinals appointed was approximately 2,900 (excluding possibly undocumented 12th-century cardinals, pseudocardinals appointed during the Western Schism by pontiffs now considered to be antipopes, and subject to some other sources of uncertainty), nearly half of whom were created after 1655.^[3]

Functions

Part of a series on the
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
Saint Peter
Ecclesiastical titles (order of precedence)
Pope Cardinal Cardinal Vicar Moderator of the curia Chaplain of His Holiness Papal legate Papal majordomo Apostolic Nuncio Apostolic Delegate Apostolic Syndic Apostolic visitor Vicar Apostolic Apostolic Exarch Apostolic Prefect Assistant at the Pontifical Throne Eparch Metropolitan Patriarch Bishop Archbishop Bishop Emeritus Diocesan bishop Major archbishop Primate Suffragan bishop Titular bishop Coadjutor bishop Auxiliary bishop Territorial prelate Territorial abbot
Liturgical titles Acolyte Consecrator Lector Reader Subdeacon
Administrative and pastoral titles Auditor Brother Chancellor Chaplain Military chaplain Military ordinary Coarb Confessor Consultor Curate Deacon Defender of the Bond Definitor Devil's advocate Diocesan administrator Ecclesiastical judge Episcopal vicar Exorcist Judicial vicar Lay brother Lay cardinal Monsignor Officialis Pastor Assistant pastor Personal prelate Preacher Prefect Presbyter Priest Protonotary Apostolic Saint Blessed Venerable Seminarian Vicar forane Vicar general
Consecrated and professed titles Abbess Abbot Consecrated virgin Corrector Custos Friar Dean Grand Master Hermit Master general Master of novices Monk Novice Nun Postulant Oblate Prior Provincial superior Rector Religious Superior general
Additional titles Almoner Altar server Archimandrite Archpriest Archdeacon Canon Captain General of the Church Chorbishop Commissary Apostolic Datarius Honorary Prelate Minor canon Notarius Ostiarius Peritus Postulator Precentor Prince-bishop Promotor Fidei Protopriest Protodeacon Protosyncellus Regionarius
Organization titles Grand Master Sovereign Military Order of Malta Order of the Holy Sepulchre Teutonic Knights
Catholicism portal
v t e

A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory,^[46] a term derived from the Roman Emperor's crown council. It also attends various functions as a matter of protocol, for example, during the canonization process.

It also convenes on the death or resignation of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor,^[47] but is then restricted to eligible Cardinals under the age limit, which was set for the first time in 1970 by Pope Paul VI at 80.^[48]

The college has no ruling power except during the sede vacante (papal vacancy) period, and even then its powers are extremely limited by the terms of the current law, which is laid down in the Apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis (1996) and the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State.

Historically, cardinals were the clergy serving parishes of the city of Rome under its bishop, the pope. The College acquired particular importance following the crowning of Henry IV as King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor at the age of six, after the unexpected death of Henry III in 1056. Until then, the Holy See was often bitterly fought for among Rome's aristocratic families and external secular authorities had significant influence over who was to be appointed pope, and the Holy Roman Emperor in particular had the special power to appoint him. This was significant as the aims and views of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Church did not always coincide. Churchmen involved in what has become known as the Gregorian Reform took advantage of the new king's lack of power and in 1059 reserved the election of the pope to the clergy of the Church in Rome. This was part of a larger power struggle, which became known as the Investiture Controversy, as the Church and the Emperor each attempted to gain more control over the appointment of bishops, and in doing so wield more influence in the lands and governments they were appointed to. Reserving to the cardinals the election of the pope represented a significant shift in the balance of power in the Early Medieval world. From the beginning of the 12th century, the College of Cardinals started to meet as such, when the cardinal bishops, cardinal priests and cardinal deacons ceased acting as separate groups.^[49]

Officials

In the Catholic church, the Dean of the College of Cardinals and the Cardinal Vice-Dean are the president and vice-president of the college. Both are elected by and from the cardinal bishops (cardinals of the highest order, including those holding suburbicarian dioceses), but the election requires papal confirmation. Except for presiding and delegating administrative tasks, they have no authority over the cardinals, acting as primus inter pares (first among equals).

The Secretary of State, the prefects of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the Vicar General of Rome, and the Patriarchs of Venice and Lisbon, are usually cardinals, with few, usually temporary, exceptions. The Fundamental Law of Vatican City State requires that appointees to the state's legislative body, the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, be cardinals.^[50]

Electing the pope

Vatican City
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Vatican City
Sovereign Pope (list) Francis
Law Constitution Law of Vatican City Fundamental Law Lateran Treaty
Executive Governorate President: Giuseppe Bertello Secretariat of State Secretary: Pietro Parolin Section for Relations with States
Legislature Pontifical Commission President: Giuseppe Bertello
Judiciary Court of Cassation President: Dominique Mamberti Court of Appeals President: Pio Vito Pinto Tribunale President: G. di Sanguinetto
Elections Conclave Recent conclaves 2013 2005 1978 (Oct)
College of Cardinals Camerlengo (Chamberlain) Dean
Congregations Bishops Catholic Education Causes of Saints Clergy Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments Doctrine of the Faith Evangelization of Peoples Oriental Churches Religious
Tribunals Apostolic Penitentiary Apostolic Signatura Roman Rota
Pontifical Councils Cor Unum Culture Family Interreligious Dialogue Justice and Peace Laity Legislative Texts Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People Promoting Christian Unity Promoting the New Evangelisation Social Communications
Administrative services Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See Apostolic Camera Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See
Institutes Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff Prefecture of the Papal Household
Foreign relations Concordats Multilateral foreign policy Status in international law Lateran Treaty Section for Relations with States (Roman Curia) Secretary for Relations with States: Paul Gallagher Undersecretaries for Relations with States: Antoine Camilleri List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See Nuncios Vatican and Holy See passports Visa requirements Visa policy The Holy See and the United Nations
Canon law 1983 Code of Canon Law Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus
See also Financial Information Authority Military Corps of Gendarmerie
Other countries Atlas Vatican City portal Catholicism portal
v t e

Under the terms of Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Ingravescentem aetatem, cardinals who reached the age of 80 before a conclave opened had no vote in papal elections. Pope John Paul II's Universi Dominici gregis of 22 February 1996 modified that rule slightly, so that cardinals who have reached the age of 80 before the day the see becomes vacant are not eligible to vote.^[47]

Canon law sets the general qualifications required of someone to be appointed bishop quite broadly, requiring someone of faith and good reputation, at least thirty-five years old and with a certain level of education.^[51] The cardinals have nevertheless elected the Bishop of Rome from among their own membership since the election of Pope Urban VI in 1378. The conclave rules specify the procedures to be followed should they elect someone residing outside Vatican City or not yet a bishop.^[52]

Of the 117 cardinals under the age of 80 at the time of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, 115 participated in the conclave of March 2013 that elected his successor. The two who did not participate were Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja (for health reasons) and Keith O'Brien (following allegations of sexual misconduct).^[53] Of the 115 cardinals who participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis, 48 were appointed by Pope John Paul II and 67 by Pope Benedict XVI.

See also

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

• Baumgartner, Frederic J. 2003. Behind Locked Doors: A History of the Papal Elections. Palgrave Macmillan.
  ISBN 0-312-29463-8.


• Broderick, J.F. 1987. "The Sacred College of Cardinals: Size and Geographical Composition (1099–1986)." Archivum historiae Pontificiae, 25: 7–71.


• Levillain, Philippe, ed. 2002. The Papacy: An Encyclopedia. Routledge.
  ISBN 0-415-92228-3.


• Pham, John-Peter. 2004. Heirs of the Fisherman: Behind the Scenes of Papal Death and Succession. Oxford University Press.
  ISBN 0-19-517834-3.


• Walsh, Michael. 2003. The Conclave: A Sometimes Secret and Occasionally Bloody History of Papal Elections. Rowman & Littlefield.
  ISBN 1-58051-135-X.

External links

• 
  The College of Cardinals—Holy See Press Office


• 
  GCatholic.org—extensive information on all cardinals since the 17th century


• 
  Cardinals of the Catholic Church—sortable list, often slightly out of date on deaths


• 
  Catholic-Hierarchy.org, with entry into extensive databases.^{[self-published source]}
  


• 
  Next Cardinal Creating Consistory by Pope Benedict XVI – The Required Background Data (including statistical data and links). Popes and the Papcy website (Anura Guruge). Retrieved 9 January 2017.