Grace Thompson
Becoming a Catholic cardinal is a long and challenging process, requiring a full-time spiritual commitment. Candidates must be male, Catholic, unmarried, and willing to take a vow of celibacy. They must also be ordained bishops before being considered for the role of cardinal, although in rare cases, the Pope may appoint esteemed elderly priests directly. The Pope ultimately selects new cardinals, typically choosing from among the most pious bishops. Once appointed, cardinals advise the Pope and participate in papal consistories, where new cardinals may also be created.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Marital Status | Unmarried or Widowed |
| Vow | Celibacy |
| Education | Seminary or Pre-theology Program |
| Appointment | Bishop |
| Selection | By the Pope |
| Criteria | Spiritual Significance, Doctrine, Virtue, Piety, Prudence in Practical Matters |
| Role | Advisor to the Pope |
| Title | Cardinal Bishop, Cardinal Priest, Cardinal Deacon |
| Age | Under 80 |
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What You'll Learn
Be a Catholic male, unmarried or a widower, and take a vow of celibacy
To become a Catholic cardinal, one of the basic requirements is that you must be a Catholic male and unmarried. You can be a widower, but if you are unmarried, you must take a lifelong vow of celibacy.
The road to becoming a cardinal is not an easy one, and you have very little control over the matter past a certain point. If you feel spiritually called to this path, you must first enter the priesthood. Typically, this involves studying at a seminary or pre-theology programme before serving as a deacon and getting ordained.
Once you are ordained, you must then be appointed a bishop before being eligible to be appointed a cardinal. In some rare instances, however, elderly priests who have gained great esteem and performed admirably for the Church can be appointed cardinals without first being appointed bishops.
As a bishop, you must demonstrate your dedication to God's will and your desire to lead the Catholic faithful. You should be active in your parish and the broader Catholic community, and discern a calling to religious life. It is important to be sure that you are spiritually and religiously committed to this path.
Ultimately, it is the Pope who selects bishops and priests to become cardinals, and there is no way to run or apply for the job. You must hope that the Pope recognises your efforts and determines that you should be a cardinal by God's will. Once you are selected, you will be given the right garb and asked to take a vow to express your dedication to your new position.
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Be ordained as a priest and then a bishop
To become a Catholic cardinal, one must typically be ordained as a priest and then a bishop.
To become a priest, one must be an unmarried Catholic male or widower willing to take a vow of celibacy. Typically, one will study at a seminary or pre-theology program before serving as a deacon and getting ordained.
Once ordained as a priest, one must then be appointed as a bishop to be eligible for cardinal appointment. Bishops are chosen by the Pope and are typically the bishops of important and large cities. It is important to note that, in some rare instances, the Pope may appoint elderly priests who have gained great esteem and performed admirably for the Church as cardinals without first being appointed bishops.
As a bishop, one must demonstrate dedication to God's will and a desire to lead the Catholic faithful. The Pope will then select priests and bishops to become cardinals, usually choosing those who are notably pious and outstanding in doctrine, virtue, piety, and prudence in practical matters.
While the path to becoming a cardinal is challenging and requires dedication and spiritual commitment, those who feel called to this path can pursue it by first becoming ordained as priests and then working towards being appointed as bishops.
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Be active in your parish and Catholic community
Being active in your parish and the broader Catholic community is a crucial step in becoming a Catholic cardinal. Catholic clergy are expected to be actively involved in the lives of the Catholics they serve. By engaging deeply in your parish and community, you gain a better understanding of the role and responsibilities of a cardinal, and your dedication may be more easily recognised by those in charge.
To begin, discern your calling to religious life. Becoming a cardinal requires a full-time spiritual commitment, so it is important to be certain that you are being called to this path by God. Seek guidance from your priest and other leaders in your Catholic community, who can provide valuable insight and advice.
Once you have confirmed your calling, actively participate in the lives of those in your parish and the broader Catholic community. This may involve organising and leading religious services, providing spiritual guidance and support to parishioners, and being present for significant life events such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Engage with your community, get to know the people you serve, and be accessible and approachable.
In addition to your spiritual duties, seek out opportunities to serve and contribute to your community. This may include volunteering your time and talents to church groups, outreach programmes, or social justice initiatives. Use your skills and passions to benefit others and make a positive impact.
Being active in your community also means staying informed about the broader Catholic Church and its teachings. Stay up to date with Catholic news and developments, and be aware of the social and moral teachings of the Church. This demonstrates your commitment to the Catholic faith and your willingness to align yourself with its teachings and values.
Finally, build relationships with other members of the clergy and seek mentorship. Developing relationships with priests, bishops, and cardinals can provide valuable insights into the role of a cardinal and offer opportunities for mentorship and guidance. These connections can also help you navigate the path to becoming a cardinal and may increase your visibility to those with the power to promote you.
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Be appointed by the Pope, who selects you based on your spiritual significance
To become a Catholic cardinal, one must be appointed by the Pope, who selects based on spiritual significance. The Pope chooses bishops and priests to become cardinals, and these individuals are freely selected by the Roman Pontiff. The Pope determines that an individual should become a cardinal by God's will.
The Pope selects individuals who are at least in the order of priesthood and are truly outstanding in doctrine, virtue, piety, and prudence in practical matters. The Pope may also select priests recognised for their service to the Church. These priests may be appointed as cardinals without first being appointed as bishops.
To be selected by the Pope, one must demonstrate dedication to God's will and the desire to lead the Catholic faithful. This involves being actively involved in the lives of the Catholics they serve. The Pope may also take into account an individual's involvement in their parish and the broader Catholic community.
Once selected by the Pope, an individual becomes a cardinal through an official ceremony where they are given the right garb and take a vow to express their dedication to their new position. They receive a scarlet zucchetto (skullcap) and scarlet biretta (four-cornered silk hat), as well as a ring signifying their new title.
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Take the Cardinals' Oath and receive official garments
Taking the Cardinal's Oath and Receiving Official Garments
Once you have been selected by the Pope to become a cardinal, you will be required to take the Cardinal's Oath. This is a vow in Latin to express your dedication to your new position. The oath is read by the most senior cardinal, and all other cardinals read along, promising to follow the prescribed rules. They also pledge that whoever is chosen as the next pope will “commit himself faithfully” to carrying out the mission of St. Peter, the first pontiff, and will "affirm and defend strenuously the spiritual and temporal rights and the liberty of the Holy See". Cardinals also vow to keep the proceedings, including the voting, a secret unless the new pope decides otherwise.
After taking the oath, you will receive your official garments during an official ceremony. The official garments include a scarlet zucchetto (skullcap), a scarlet biretta (four-cornered silk hat), and a ring. The zucchetto is a small, round, brimless cap that is typically made of silk or cotton and is worn by clerics as a skullcap. The biretta is a four-cornered hat with three or four peaks, and is also made of silk. The colour of the biretta denotes the rank of the wearer: scarlet for cardinals, purple for bishops, and black for priests. The scarlet zucchetto and biretta are symbols of a cardinal's position and authority within the Catholic Church.
In addition to the zucchetto and biretta, cardinals also typically wear a red mozzetta cape and a red chasuble over a red stole and a white alb. The cassock, which is the inner garment, is usually black with scarlet borders, piping, and buttons, or it can be a solid scarlet colour. The cassock is also worn by bishops and the pope, with the colour varying depending on the liturgical season and whether it is being worn as ordinary dress or under other vestments. The cassock is often belted with a wide length of fabric called a fascia, which is scarlet for cardinals and white for the pope.
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Frequently asked questions
You must be a Catholic, male, unmarried, and willing to take a vow of celibacy.
You must first become a priest, then a bishop, and finally, you may be appointed as a cardinal by the Pope.
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church and serve as advisors to the Pope. Their most solemn responsibility is to elect a new Pope when the position becomes vacant.
There are three separate ranks: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons. Each rank has its own responsibilities, but none is considered higher than the others.
There is no application process for becoming a cardinal. The Pope selects bishops and priests to become cardinals based on their spiritual significance and dedication to God's will.
