Cardinal (Catholic Church)

Cardinals are created by the pope and typically hold the title for life. Cardinals are bishops and archbishops leading dioceses and archdioceses around the world as well as working for the Holy See either within Vatican City or internationally as a nuncio.

Cardinals (Walter Kasper and Godfried Danneels)

On 24 February 2024, there were 234 serving cardinals.^[1]

According to the Catholic church, the order of the importance of the Catholic Church goes from the Pope, then the Bishops and Archbishops and then those holding the position of a Cardinal. Cardinals are the counsellors of the Pope. In 1245, Pope Innocent IV granted the red hat to the cardinals as a sign of their readiness to shed their blood in the cause of the church which showed their dedication to the church.^[source?]

Cardinal Armand Jean de Plessis

The collective name for cardinals is College of Cardinals. They meet in a Papal conclave to elect a new Pope.^[2]

When there is no pope, the cardinals direct the day-to-day affairs of the Church.^[2]

Appointment

Cardinals are chosen by the Pope from men who are already bishops or archbishops. The Pope officially announces new cardinals during a meeting called a consistory.^[3][4][5][6]

The Pope can choose cardinals as he sees fit, but usually asks for advice from other cardinals. If a man is not yet a bishop or archbishop when chosen, he should become one, but this is not always required.^[3][7][6]

Ranks of Cardinals

There are three ranks of cardinals:^[6][4][8][3]

• Cardinal bishops.
• Cardinal priests.
• Cardinal deacons.

Clothing

• 
  Choir dress of a cardinal
• 
  Cassock of a cardinal
• 
  Cardinal's choir suit with cappa magna
• 
  Cardinal's piano suit
• 
  Cardinal's choir dress
• 
  Cardinal's galero hat

Coats of arms

• 
  Cardinal who is Metropolitan Archbishop
• 
  Cardinal (archbishop)
• 
  Cardinal (bishop)
• 
  Cardinal who is not a bishop
• 
  Camerlengo (archbishop)
• 
  Camerlengo (bishop)

Related pages

• Bishop
• Archbishop