Ethan Walker
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church, acting as advisors to the pope and electing a new pope when necessary. They are chosen by the pope, typically from bishops, though occasionally from priests or even non-clergy in rare instances. The path to becoming a cardinal is long and challenging, requiring a full-time spiritual commitment and a vow of celibacy. Candidates must be male, unmarried, and actively involved in their parish and Catholic community. They must also demonstrate piety and a dedication to God's will. Once selected, a cardinal receives their official garb and takes an oath to express their dedication to their new position.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commitment | Full-time spiritual commitment is required |
| Gender | Male |
| Marital Status | Unmarried and willing to take a lifelong vow of celibacy |
| Education | A bachelor's degree is required, preferably in Catholic Philosophy |
| Priesthood | One does not need to be a priest to become a cardinal, but it is rare not to be |
| Process | The Apostolic Nuncio chooses three candidates from a list sent by the bishops, and passes them to the Congress of Bishops in Rome, who decide on a final candidate to send to the Pope for approval |
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What You'll Learn
- Requirements: male, Catholic, unmarried, and a vow of celibacy
- Education: a bachelor's degree, preferably in Catholic Philosophy
- Vocation: a full-time spiritual commitment, with guidance from a priest
- Selection: chosen by the Apostolic Nuncio, then approved by the Pope
- Ranking: cardinals can rise through the ranks of deacon, priest, and bishop
Requirements: male, Catholic, unmarried, and a vow of celibacy
To become a Catholic cardinal, you must meet several requirements, including being male, Catholic, unmarried, and taking a vow of celibacy. While it is possible to be a widower and become a cardinal, you cannot be divorced—though you may be eligible if you obtain an annulment.
Beyond these basic requirements, there are several other steps and considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, you must have a full-time spiritual commitment and be certain that you are being called to religious life. This discernment process can be aided by seeking guidance from your priest and other leaders in your Catholic community. Additionally, it is important to be active in your parish and the broader Catholic community, as this not only provides a better understanding of the role but also reflects favourably on your candidacy to those in charge of the selection process.
In terms of education, while there are no specific degree requirements, it is generally expected that you will have a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. A degree in Catholic Philosophy is preferable, although it is not mandatory.
The process of becoming a cardinal is lengthy and challenging, and beyond a certain point, your advancement is largely out of your control. The selection process involves the Apostolic Nuncio, who reviews a list of candidates sent by the bishops and selects three candidates for further consideration. These names are then passed on to the Congress of Bishops in Rome, who make the final decision on whether to approve a candidate. If they approve a candidate, their name is passed on to the Pope for final approval.
It is worth noting that while the Pope can appoint any Catholic male as a cardinal, this is a rare occurrence and has historically been associated with periods of corruption in the church.
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Education: a bachelor's degree, preferably in Catholic Philosophy
To become a Catholic cardinal, one must meet several basic requirements. Firstly, you must identify as male and Catholic, and be unmarried, taking a lifelong vow of celibacy. You cannot be divorced, but a widower can still become a cardinal. In addition, you must have a full-time spiritual commitment, and be certain that you are being called to religious life.
In terms of education, a bachelor's degree is required. This should ideally be in Catholic Philosophy, obtained from an accredited institution. While it is not necessary to be a top student, you should aim for average to above-average grades. This four-year degree is the minimum academic requirement, and it is expected that you will have a working knowledge of Latin, as the liturgy is conducted in this language.
While there are no specific educational requirements beyond a bachelor's degree, cardinals are influential figures in the Catholic Church, and it is highly likely that candidates will have extensive knowledge of theology, sacred scripture, and canon law.
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Vocation: a full-time spiritual commitment, with guidance from a priest
Becoming a Catholic cardinal requires a full-time spiritual commitment. This is a lifelong vocation and should be treated as a calling. Before embarking on the process, you should be sure that God is calling you to religious life. As part of this discernment process, you should ask for guidance from your priest. Your parish priest and other leaders in your Catholic community can provide you with additional information, guidance, and prayers.
To become a cardinal, you must meet some basic requirements. You must be Catholic, male, and unmarried. If you are already a widower, you can still become a member of the clergy, but you must take a vow of celibacy. You cannot be divorced, but you may be eligible if you obtain an annulment. It is also expected that you are active in your parish and the broader Catholic community.
Educational requirements include a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. While your degree can technically be in any subject, a degree in Catholic Philosophy is preferable. You do not need to be a top student, but you should be an average or above-average graduate. After completing your bachelor's degree, you will typically need to join a seminary or go to college, requiring eight years of post-secondary education in total.
The process of becoming a cardinal is not short or easy, and you have very little control over your selection. The bishops in your country will review the candidates and choose three names to send to the Congress of Bishops in Rome. The Congress will then decide on a final candidate, which is passed to the Pope for approval. If the Pope approves, the candidate becomes a bishop and may then become a cardinal.
While the Pope can appoint any Catholic male as a cardinal, this is rare and has generally occurred during periods of corruption in the church. Cardinals are typically chosen from among the priests and bishops, with the Pope selecting candidates who possess the necessary intellectual and spiritual qualifications.
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Selection: chosen by the Apostolic Nuncio, then approved by the Pope
The process of becoming a Catholic cardinal is not an easy one, and it requires a full-time spiritual commitment. To begin with, one must be Catholic, male, and unmarried. They must also take a lifelong vow of celibacy.
The selection process involves the Apostolic Nuncio, who is the ambassador to Rome for a particular country. The Apostolic Nuncio reviews the names on a list sent by the bishops and selects three candidates after conducting interviews and research. These three names are then passed on to the Congress of Bishops in Rome, who decide on a final candidate. If they do not approve of any of the candidates, the process starts again with the Apostolic Nuncio selecting another three candidates. If they approve of a candidate, the name is passed on to the Pope for final approval. If the Pope approves, the candidate becomes a bishop, and potentially a cardinal.
While the Pope can appoint any Catholic male as a cardinal, this is rarely done and has historically been done for political reasons. The Pope is likely to have a doctorate or licentiate in sacred scripture, theology, or canon law, and it is assumed that cardinals would choose someone with similar qualifications.
In addition to the selection process, those seeking to become cardinals should be actively involved in their parish and the broader Catholic community. They should also obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in Catholic Philosophy, from an accredited institution.
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Ranking: cardinals can rise through the ranks of deacon, priest, and bishop
To become a Catholic cardinal, one must be Catholic, male, and unmarried. If previously married, one must be widowed. Additionally, one must take a lifelong vow of celibacy.
The process of becoming a cardinal is not short or easy, and there is little control over the matter past a certain point. One must first become a deacon, then a priest, and then a bishop before being considered for the position of cardinal.
To become a deacon, one must earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. While the degree can technically be in any subject, a degree in Catholic Philosophy is preferable.
After completing a bachelor's degree, one must join a seminary or go to college to begin the process of becoming a priest. This typically involves eight years of post-secondary education.
Once one has become a priest, they can begin to rise through the ranks to become a bishop. Bishops must possess a doctorate or licentiate in sacred scripture, theology, or canon law from an institute of approved by the Apostolic See. Alternatively, they must be truly expert in these disciplines.
Once an individual has become a bishop, they may be considered for the position of cardinal. The Apostolic Nuncio, the ambassador to Rome, reviews the names sent by the bishops and chooses three candidates after conducting interviews and research. These three names are then passed on to the Congress of Bishops in Rome, who decide whether to approve any of the candidates. If a candidate is approved, their name is passed on to the Pope, who makes the final decision.
While the Pope can appoint any Catholic male as a cardinal, this is rare and generally only occurs during periods of corruption in the church.
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Frequently asked questions
You must be Catholic, male, unmarried, and willing to take a vow of celibacy.
First, you must be active in your parish and Catholic community. Next, you'll need to study at a seminary or pre-theology program before serving as a deacon and getting ordained. Then, you'll need to be appointed a bishop before being eligible to be appointed a cardinal by the Pope.
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church and serve as advisors to the Pope. They also participate in papal consistories, where new cardinals may be created, and matters of importance to the Church are considered.
A Cardinal is a Bishop with an additional title. Cardinals are not the boss of other bishops, but they do have huge influence in the Church as they decide who becomes Pope.
Cardinals typically wear a black cassock with scarlet piping and a scarlet fascia (sash). They also receive a scarlet zucchetto (skullcap) and scarlet biretta (four-cornered silk hat) when they are selected.
