Joshua Bennett
The Council of Cardinals, also known as the Council of Cardinal Advisers, is a group of cardinals of the Catholic Church appointed by Pope Francis to advise him on the governance of the universal Church and to assist in the reform of the Roman Curia. The council was formally established on 28 September 2013 and currently comprises nine cardinals, including the secretary, Bishop Marco Mellino. The number of cardinal advisers has varied over time, with the council being referred to as C8, C9, C6, and C7 based on the number of advisers. The College of Cardinals, of which the Council of Cardinals is a part, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church, and they play a crucial role in electing the next pope.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Formation | 28 September 2013 |
| Number of Members at Formation | 8 |
| Current Number of Members | 9 |
| Current Members | Pietro Parolin, Fernando Vérgez Alzaga LC, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu OFMCap, Bishop Marco Mellino (Secretary) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The College of Cardinals
The word "cardinal" is derived from the Latin "cardō", 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 the term "cardinal" appears in the Liber Pontificalis is in the biography of Pope Stephen III, when it was decided that the Roman pontiff should be elected from among the deacons and cardinal priests. During the pontificate of Pope Stephen V (816-817), the three classes of the college that are present today began to form. Stephen V 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 were the cardinal deacons, followed by the cardinal priests, and then the cardinal bishops.
The Dean of the College of Cardinals, the highest-ranking cardinal, is elected by the Latin Church cardinal bishops from among their number, subject to papal approval. The current Dean is Giovanni Battista Re, and the Vice-Dean is Leonardo Sandri. Cardinal priests are the most numerous of the three orders of cardinals in the Catholic Church, ranking above the cardinal deacons and below the cardinal bishops.
Catholic Marriage Blessings: A Guide to the Ritual
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pope Francis' death
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88. He had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on 14 February 2025, after suffering from bronchitis and a respiratory tract infection. He was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and died from a stroke and irreversible cardiac arrest. Pope Francis's death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo, in a statement broadcast on Vatican Media.
Following Pope Francis's death, his spiritual testament was released, revealing his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. On 22 April, the Vatican released images of Pope Francis lying in state at the Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel. His Requiem Mass was celebrated on 26 April, and he was buried at Santa Maria Maggiore.
The College of Cardinals, also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are appointed by the pope and serve for life. They play an integral role in the Church, including the election of the pope. The pope gives each newly appointed cardinal a gold ring, which is traditionally kissed by Catholics.
The College of Cardinals has existed since the Early Middle Ages, and its size has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils ratified by the pope, and the college itself. The number of cardinals has varied over time, from as few as seven to as many as 251, the number as of 15 June 2025.
The death of Pope Francis and the subsequent College of Cardinals proceedings highlight the important role of the College in the Catholic Church and the rituals surrounding the death and funeral of a pope.
Calvinism: My Path to Catholicism
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pope election process
The process of electing a new Pope, known as a conclave, has been refined over millennia. The College of Cardinals, which elects the Pope, was created in 1059, and initially, only cardinal bishops could elect the Pope. However, in 1179, the Third Council of the Lateran gave equal rights to the entire College of Cardinals when electing a new pope.
The process of electing a Pope begins with the death or resignation of the previous Pope, after which the cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations. During these meetings, they discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church globally and prepare for the upcoming papal election.
On the designated day, the cardinal electors assemble in Saint Peter's Basilica to celebrate Mass and then gather in the afternoon in the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. They then process to the Sistine Chapel while singing the Litany of the Saints. Before voting begins, all non-electors must leave the Sistine Chapel. The senior cardinal deacon then closes the doors, opening and closing them only when necessary, such as to collect the votes of ill cardinals.
Each cardinal elector receives at least two or three ballots, which are rectangular, with the top half bearing a Latin phrase and the bottom half left blank for the cardinal to write the name of their chosen candidate. The ballots are designed to be folded in half and each cardinal, in order of precedence, writes the name of their chosen candidate on the ballot, folds it, holds it aloft, and carries it to the altar.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new Pope. If a Pope is not elected after 21 votes, a final pause for prayer, dialogue, and reflection is observed, and voting continues, with the cardinals choosing between the two candidates who received the most votes in the previous round.
Once a Pope is elected, he will be led to the "Room of Tears", a small room next to the Sistine Chapel, where he dons the white papal vestments for the first time. The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals, producing black smoke if no Pope has been elected, and white smoke if one has. The senior cardinal deacon announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica before the new Pope processes out and imparts his blessing on the city of Rome and the world.
Mardi Gras: Catholic Roots and Modern Revelry
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cardinal classes
The College of Cardinals, also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. There are three classes of cardinals: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons. The first class to form were the cardinal deacons, direct theological descendants of the original seven ordained in Acts 6, followed by the cardinal priests, and then the cardinal bishops.
Cardinal bishops are the bishops of seven sees around Rome (Ostia, Velletri, Porto and Santa Rufina, Albano, Frascati, Palestrina, and Sabina and Poggio Mirteto) and Eastern-rite patriarchs. The first cardinal bishop in order of creation is the dean of the college and ex officio bishop of Ostia in addition to his other see. Cardinal bishops are the senior order of cardinals, although in modern times, few cardinals are cardinal bishops. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, the highest-ranking cardinal, is elected by the Latin Church cardinal bishops from among their number, subject to papal approval. The Vice-Dean, formerly the second-longest-serving, is also elected.
Cardinal priests are the middle rank of the College of Cardinals and the most numerous. They include officials of the Roman Curia, as well as archbishops of major dioceses from around the world. Cardinal priests hold the title of a particular church of the Roman See. Within the rank of Cardinal Priest, cardinals hold seniority based on the date of appointment, and they may even advance by promotion by the Pope to the higher grade of Cardinal Bishop.
Cardinal deacons hold the lowest rank of the College of Cardinals. Their ranks include officials of the Roman Curia and theologians honored by the Pope for their contributions to the Church. Cardinal deacons have long enjoyed the right to "opt for the order of cardinal priests" (optazione) after serving as cardinal deacons for ten years. They may, upon such elevation, take a vacant "title" (a church allotted to a cardinal priest as the church in Rome with which he is associated) or their diaconal church may be temporarily elevated to a cardinal priest's "title" for that occasion.
Cardinals are appointed by the pope and serve for life, but they become ineligible to participate in a papal conclave if they turn 80 before a papal vacancy occurs. Cardinals are generally bishops, though the Popes may grant exceptions. In recent decades, this exception has been granted for theologians the Popes have wished to honor. Under current law, a Cardinal must at least be a priest.
Christmas: A Sacred Catholic Tradition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Council of Cardinals
The Council of Cardinals, also known as the Consiglio dei Cardinali (in Italian) or the Consilium Cardinalium Summo Pontifici (in Latin), is a group of cardinals of the Catholic Church appointed by Pope Francis to serve as his advisers. The council was formally established on 28 September 2013, with the tasks of assisting the Pope in the governance of the universal Church and considering a project for the reform of the Roman Curia.
The Council of Cardinals is also called C9 because it contained nine cardinal members for a time. The number of advisers has varied over time, with the council also being referred to as C8, C6, and C7, depending on the number of advisers at any given time. The council currently comprises nine cardinals, assisted by Bishop Marco Mellino as its secretary.
The College of Cardinals, of which the Council of Cardinals is a part, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are appointed by the pope and serve for life, although they become ineligible to participate in a papal conclave if they turn 80 before a papal vacancy occurs. The College of Cardinals played an integral part in various reforms within the Church as early as the pontificate of Pope Leo IX in 1050.
The Council of Cardinals was created primarily to assist Pope Francis in the reform of the Roman Curia. The council has discussed a range of topics, including the role of women in the Church, the implementation of the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium in diocesan Curias, and areas of conflict around the world, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Good Friday: Catholic Traditions and Observances
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The length of a Catholic Cardinal Council is not fixed and depends on the topics being discussed. For example, the third meeting of the Council in June 2024 discussed the implementation of Praedicate evangelium in diocesan Curias.
The Council of Cardinals, or the Council of Cardinal Advisers, is a group of cardinals of the Catholic Church appointed by Pope Francis to serve as his advisers.
The council currently comprises nine cardinals, including the secretary, Bishop Marco Mellino.
The members of the council are: Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Secretary of State; Fernando Vérgez Alzaga LC, President Emeritus of the Governorate of Vatican City State and President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; Fridolin Ambongo Besungu OFMCap, Archbishop of Kinshasa; and more.
The council discusses various topics related to the Catholic Church and the reform of the Roman Curia. For example, in April 2024, they centred on Praedicate evangelium's implementation in diocesan Curias. In February 2024, the role of women in the Church was discussed.
