Cardinal (Catholic Church)

A cardinal is a senior member of the <a href="/facts/Clergy/IzdAVmsT">clergy</a> of the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholic Church</a>. As titular members of the clergy of the <a href="/facts/Diocese_of_Rome/l6Qwj9S4">Diocese of Rome</a>, they serve as advisors to the <a href="/facts/Pope/9zVokNjn">pope</a>, who is the bishop of Rome and the <a href="/facts/Head_of_the_Church/zs3sfm0E">visible head</a> of the worldwide Catholic Church. Cardinals are chosen and formally created by the pope, and typically hold the title for life. Collectively, they constitute the <a href="/facts/College_of_Cardinals/cqmS8R72">College of Cardinals</a>. The most solemn responsibility of the cardinals is to elect a new pope in a <a href="/facts/Papal_conclave/JDth342D">conclave</a>, almost always from among themselves, with a few historical exceptions, when the <a href="/facts/Holy_See/7tK8AceC">Holy See</a> is <a href="/facts/Sede_vacante/1uPUsrSa">vacant</a>.
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. The right to participate in a conclave is limited to cardinals who have not reached the age of 80 years by the day the vacancy occurs. With the pope, cardinals collectively participate in <a href="/facts/Papal_consistory/fK3YLJJY">papal consistories</a>, in which matters of importance to the Church are considered and new cardinals may be created. Cardinals of working age are also often appointed to roles overseeing <a href="/facts/Dicastery/R7YE08sX">dicasteries</a> (departments) of the <a href="/facts/Roman_Curia/LJ7r0uay">Roman Curia</a>, the central administration of the Catholic Church.
Cardinals are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, being appointed as cardinals in addition to their existing roles within the Church. Most cardinals are <a href="/facts/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)/aCGIEzzD">bishops</a> and <a href="/facts/Archbishop/5qxa8woF">archbishops</a> leading <a href="/facts/Diocese/Uts2PByI">dioceses</a> and <a href="/facts/Archdiocese/Uts2PByI">archdioceses</a> around the world – often the most prominent diocese or archdiocese in their country. Others are <a href="/facts/Titular_bishop/WJYxatKc">titular bishops</a> who are current or former officials within the Roman Curia, generally the heads of dicasteries and other bodies linked to the Curia. A very small number are priests recognised by the pope for their service to the Church. Canon law requires them to be generally <a href="/facts/Consecration/M6mxxeLw">consecrated</a> as bishops before they are made cardinals, but some are granted a papal dispensation. There are no strict criteria for elevation to the College of Cardinals. Since 1917, a potential cardinal must already be at least a priest, but laymen have been cardinals in the past. The selection is entirely up to the pope, and tradition is his only guide.
As of 16 May 2025, <a href="/facts/List_of_current_cardinals/9DuQEnVM">there are 251 serving cardinals</a>, of whom 133 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.

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Cardinal (Catholic Church)