Joshua Bennett
The word cardinal is derived from the Latin word cardinalis, which initially meant serving as a hinge. In the context of the Catholic Church, a cardinal is a senior member of the clergy who serves as an advisor to the pope. They are chosen and appointed by the pope and hold the title for life. The title cardinal is typically capitalised when referring to this specific role within the Catholic Church. The word cardinal has other meanings and uses in different contexts, such as in ornithology, mathematics, and philosophy, and may not always be capitalised depending on the specific usage.
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What You'll Learn
Cardinals are senior members of the Catholic clergy
The title of Cardinal is not exclusive to bishops, however. A small number of priests are also recognised for their service to the Church and are appointed Cardinals. In addition, some cardinals are titular bishops who are current or former officials within the Roman Curia.
Cardinals are divided into three ranks: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons. The cardinal bishops are the senior order of cardinals, though few are "cardinal bishops". In modern times, most cardinals are bishops or archbishops. Cardinal priests are the most numerous of the three orders of cardinals, and they are generally also bishops of important dioceses throughout the world. Cardinal deacons hold the lowest rank of the three.
The College of Cardinals is internally divided into these three orders or ranks. This division reflects its early history when the advisors and electors of the Pope were taken from the clergy of Rome. Each Cardinal holds a titular office in the Diocese and Province of Rome.
The right to elect a new pope in a conclave is one of the most solemn responsibilities of the College of Cardinals. This right has been restricted to the College since the Third Lateran Council in 1179. During the period between a pope's death or resignation and the election of his successor, the day-to-day governance of the Holy See is in the hands of the College of Cardinals.
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They are appointed by the Pope
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church, and they are chosen and formally created by the Pope. They are the Pope's advisors and constitute the College of Cardinals. The Pope can nominate as many cardinals as he wishes, and they are typically appointed for life.
The Pope appoints cardinals from a variety of backgrounds, in addition to their existing roles within the Church. Most cardinals are bishops and archbishops leading dioceses and archdioceses worldwide. Some are titular bishops who are current or former officials within the Roman Curia, and a small number are priests recognised by the Pope for their service to the Church.
The Pope can also assign the rank of cardinal bishop, as Pope Paul VI did in 1965 to patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Pope Francis expanded the cardinal bishops of the Roman title in 2018. Each cardinal is assigned a titular church, always in the city of Rome. Cardinals can rise through the ranks from cardinal deacon to priest, and from cardinal priest to cardinal bishop.
The Pope must carefully select cardinals, as they are responsible for electing the next Pope in a conclave, usually from among themselves. Cardinals also participate in papal consistories, where matters of importance to the Church are considered and new cardinals may be created.
The right to participate in a conclave is limited to cardinals under the age of 80. Cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican, called general congregations, to discuss the needs and challenges facing the Church. They also prepare for the upcoming papal election, which is an act of supreme secrecy. Cardinals process to the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy, and seal the doors before voting by secret ballot.
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Their role includes electing a new Pope
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church. They are chosen and formally created by the pope and typically hold the title for life. They are his advisors and participate in papal consistories, in which matters of importance to the Church are considered. They are also often appointed to roles overseeing departments of the Roman Curia, the central administration of the Catholic Church.
The most solemn responsibility of the cardinals is to elect a new pope in a conclave, almost always from among themselves. The College of Cardinals will gather in Vatican City for a conclave to choose a successor to the pope. The term "conclave" comes from the Latin word for a "room that can be locked up." Cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations, where they discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church globally. They also prepare for the upcoming papal election.
During the conclave, the cardinals gather at St. Peter's Basilica to celebrate a special Mass before proceeding to the Sistine Chapel, where the voting will take place. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave. They take an oath of absolute secrecy before sealing the doors. The cardinals vote by secret ballot, processing one by one up to Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment. They say a prayer and drop the twice-folded ballot in a large chalice. Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the votes. The ballots are burned after each round of voting, and smoke emerges from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel to signify that the round of voting has ended.
If a pope is not chosen after three days of voting, the cardinals suspend voting for up to one day to allow for prayer, informal discussion, and a brief spiritual exhortation by a key cardinal. When a cardinal receives the necessary two-thirds vote, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts his election. If he accepts, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments before appearing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals, producing white smoke to signal to the world the election of a new pope.
The word "cardinal" is derived from the Latin word "cardinalis," meaning "principal" or "chief." It is also related to the Latin word "cardo," meaning "door hinge." The red colour of a cardinal's cassock is reflected in the naming of a variety of early-fruiting dessert apples and a species of bird with red plumage as "cardinal."
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Cardinals wear distinctive red attire
When discussing the Catholic Church's hierarchy, it is important to understand the proper usage of capitalisation, especially when referring to specific titles and positions. One such example is the term "cardinal," which warrants examination in terms of whether it should be capitalised in the context of Catholic ecclesiastical nomenclature.
In general, the word "cardinal" is not automatically capitalised solely based on its association with Catholicism. It is a word that can be used in a generic sense to refer to a prominent and fundamental element, and in such cases, it follows standard grammatical rules for capitalisation. However, within the specific context of Catholic ecclesiastical language, the word "cardinal" takes on a unique significance and is subject to distinct capitalisation rules.
Cardinals, as high-ranking members of the Catholic Church who are often considered "princes of the church," have a specific dress code that sets them apart from other clergy members. One of the most distinctive aspects of their attire is the colour red, which holds symbolic significance. The red attire, known as "carmine red," is reserved specifically for cardinals and is a visible marker of their office and proximity to the Pope. This tradition of donning red vestments has its roots in the 13th century, and the colour carries a profound meaning within the Catholic Church.
The red colour symbolises the cardinal's willingness to shed their blood in defence of their faith and the Church. It represents their devotion, courage, and readiness to make sacrifices for their beliefs. The red attire also serves as a visual reminder of the cardinal's role as a leader within the Catholic Church, inspiring recognition and respect from fellow Catholics. The distinctive dress code is a long-standing tradition that adds solemnity and grandeur to Catholic ceremonies and events, with the cardinals' vibrant red vestments creating a striking visual impact.
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The word 'cardinal' is derived from the Latin word 'cardo'
The word "cardinal" is derived from the Latin word "cardo", which means "hinge". The Latin root word "cardo" is the basis for the Latin adjective "cardinalis", which means "serving as a hinge", "principal", "chief", or "essential". The word "cardinal" has been used as a noun to refer to a high-ranking clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church, just below the Pope, since the 12th century.
The title "Prince of the Church" has been historically applied to cardinals of the Catholic Church, but Pope Francis rejected this title. Cardinals are the highest-ranking members of the clergy, just below the Pope, and they are chosen and formally created by the Pope. They typically hold the title for life and collectively form the College of Cardinals. The most important responsibility of the College of Cardinals is to elect a new Pope in a conclave, usually from among themselves.
Cardinals are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and are appointed as cardinals in addition to their existing roles within the Church. Most cardinals are bishops and archbishops leading dioceses and archdioceses worldwide. A small number of cardinals are priests recognized by the Pope for their service to the Church.
The term "cardinal" is also used to refer to a variety of early-fruiting dessert apples with yellow skin flushed with crimson and flesh with a pinkish tinge. It is also used to refer to various South American songbirds belonging to the family Thraupidae, especially those constituting the genus Paroaria, which have bright red heads, white underparts, and blackish-grey upper parts.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, "Cardinal" is capitalized when referring to a member of the Catholic Church.
The word "Cardinal" is derived from the Latin word "cardinalis", which means "principal" or "chief". The term is used to refer to a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church, specifically a member of the College of Cardinals, who ranks just below the Pope.
Cardinals have several important duties within the Catholic Church. They serve as advisors to the Pope, acting as his principal counselors. They also have the responsibility of electing a new Pope when the position becomes vacant, and they aid in the governance of the Church throughout the world.
