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cardinal

 
(kär'dn-əl, kärd'nəl) pronunciation
adj.
  1. Of foremost importance; paramount: a cardinal rule; cardinal sins.
  2. Dark to deep or vivid red.
n.
  1. (Abbr. Card.) Roman Catholic Church. A high church official, ranking just below the pope, who has been appointed by a pope to membership in the College of Cardinals.
  2. A dark to deep or vivid red.
  3. A North American finch (Cardinalis cardinalis) having a crested head, a short thick bill, and bright red plumage in the male.
  4. A short hooded cloak, originally of scarlet cloth, worn by women in the 18th century.
  5. A cardinal number.

[Middle English, from Late Latin cardinālis, principal, pivotal, from Latin, serving as a hinge, from cardō, cardin-, hinge.]

cardinalship car'di·nal·ship' n.

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Member of the Sacred College of Cardinals. The cardinals' duties include electing the pope, acting as his principal counselors, and aiding in the governance of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals serve as officers of the Roman Curia, bishops of major dioceses, and papal envoys. Since 769 only cardinals have been eligible to become pope, and since 1059 the pope has been elected only by cardinals. The first cardinals were the deacons of the seven regions of Rome. Their present-day successors are known as cardinal deacons. Cardinal bishops are the successors of the bishops of the sees just outside Rome and of the patriarchal sees of the Eastern Catholic Church. Cardinal priests are the bishops of important sees around the world and constitute the most numerous order of cardinals. The number of cardinals was limited to 70 for nearly 400 years until 1958, when John XXIII (1958 – 63) eliminated the restriction. Under Paul VI (1963 – 78) there were 145 cardinals, and under John Paul II (1978 – 2005) there were 182. With the increase in the size of the cardinalate came new restrictions imposed by the popes. Paul VI directed that cardinals who do not resign by age 75 relinquish the right to vote for a pope when they reach 80. He also limited the number of voting cardinals to 120, a restriction confirmed during the pontificate of John Paul II. A red biretta and ring are symbolic of the office.

For more information on cardinal, visit Britannica.com.

Roget's Thesaurus:

cardinal

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adj

Definition: important, key
Antonyms: inessential, insignificant, minor, negligible, secondary, unimportant

Columbia Encyclopedia:

cardinal

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cardinal [Lat.,=attached to and thus "belonging to" the hinge], in the Roman Catholic Church, a member of the highest body of the church. The sacred college of cardinals of the Holy Roman Church is the electoral college of the papacy. Its members are appointed by the pope. A cardinal's insignia resemble those of a bishop, except for the characteristic red, broad-brimmed, tasseled hat, which is conferred by the pope but not subsequently worn. Cardinals, the "princes of the church," are styled "Eminence."

The term cardinal was formerly applied to important clergymen of all sorts and countries, but in the Middle Ages it was restricted to the Roman province. The college of cardinals is the modern derivative of the clergy of the ancient diocese of Rome, used by the pope for advice and transaction of business. Pope Sixtus V set the maximum number of cardinals at 70, a tradition maintained for centuries until the pontificate of Pope John XXIII. Since then it has increased to well over 100, approaching twice that at times. The number number of cardinals eligible to vote in papal elections (those under 80 years old) was limited to 120 by Paul VI and John Paul II, but John Paul appointed more than that number several times. Following the lead of Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI promoted the international character of the college. John Paul continued to expand international representation in the college, and Europeans now account for only about half of the cardinals eligible to vote in papal elections.

Classes of Cardinals

There are three classes of cardinals. 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 of these in order of creation is dean of the college and ex officio bishop of Ostia in addition to his other see. Cardinal priests are mostly archbishops outside the Roman province; the title "cardinal archbishop"-often applied to these men-simply represents the union of the two dignities in one man. Cardinal deacons are priests with functions in the papal government. Cardinal priests and cardinal deacons have titles corresponding to churches of the Roman diocese.

The Cabinet of the Pope

Apart from papal elections, the cardinals have great importance as the privy council of the pope. Hence those who are not bishops away from Rome must live at Rome. They meet with the pope in consistories, public and secret, but most of the business they transact is done in their various jurisdictional capacities. Thus the cardinals in residence at Rome make up a cabinet for the pope, directing the work of the Curia Romana, as the papal administration is called. This is made up of standing committees and courts, the departments of administration divided among them. Since there is no division of powers in the headship of the church, most organs of the Curia have power to judge, to command, and to legislate. The acts of these bodies are validated by papal approbation, and they therefore bind Roman Catholics as direct pontifical acts. Only the pope himself can speak finally in matters of faith and morals (see infallibility). The major divisions of the Curia are the secretariat of state, the Roman congregations, and the Roman tribunals. There are also pontifical commisions under some of the congregations; a number of pontifical councils with special responsibilities (e.g., for ecumenical dialogue with other Christians, for the family, for issues relating to the sanctity of life, and for dialogue with nonbelievers); curial offices responsible for administering the Vatican property and treasury; and other bodies.

The Secretariat of State

The secretariat of state, headed by the cardinal secretary of state, works most closely with the pope and is the most important body of the Curia; it is divided into two sections. The section for general affairs handles affairs relating to the papal office, distributes encyclicals and other official papal documents, oversees the official media and the press office of the Vatican, and maintains the church's statistical bureau. The section for relations with states is responsible for the Vatican's diplomatic relation with foreign governments and international organizations.

Roman Congregations

A Roman congregation consists of a group of cardinals, headed by a prefect, together with two staffs that transact most of the business-one of major officials and the other of minor officials chosen by competitive examination and assigned to less important affairs. The congregation proper, i.e., the cardinals, makes all major decisions.

The following are the Roman congregations (founded by Sixtus V in 1588; reorganized by Pius X in 1908, by Paul VI at the close of the Second Vatican Council, and by John Paul II in 1988): the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly, of the Holy Office; see Inquisition), concerned with doctrinal orthodoxy; the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, for all concerns of those following Eastern rites in communion with the pope; the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, for all public worship of the Latin rite, liturgical books, and the like, including sacred music and art; the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, for overseeing the process of canonization and verifying sacred relics; the Congregation for Bishops, for recommending candidates for bishop and establishing dioceses; the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (formerly Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith; the Propaganda), for all concerns of the missions of the Latin rite; the Congregation for the Clergy, for all concerns relating to all secular priests and deacons; the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, for all concerns relating to religious orders and their members; and the Congregation for Catholic Education, for the administration of seminaries and Catholic educational institutions. Of the Roman congregations, the two whose influence is felt most deeply throughout the church are probably the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

The Roman Tribunals

The Roman tribunals are three secret courts, the highest of the church; each is headed by a cardinal, and its work is handled by trained canonists. They are the Apostolic Penitentiary, for all cases of conscience appealed by any Catholic to the pope and for the regulation of indulgences; the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, the court of final appeal of the church, considering only cases involving the members of, or appealed from, the Rota; the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, the court of appeal from diocesan courts and the lower court of Vatican City, hearing all cases requiring trial and evidence, except cases of conscience, cases of canonization, and cases involving sovereigns of states (reserved to the pope in person).

Bibliography

See studies by G. D. Kittler (1960), and F. B. Thornton (1963).


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cardinal

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: Of most importance. Also: Bright red. Also: A bright red American songbird.

pronunciation Punctuality is one of the cardinal business virtues: always insist on it in your subordinates. — Don Marquis (1878-1937).

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Cardinal (Catholicism)

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The coat of arms of a cardinal is indicated by a red galero (wide-brimmed hat) with 15 tassels on each side (the motto and escutcheon are proper to the individual cardinal).

A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and making themselves available individually or in groups to the pope if he requests their counsel. Most cardinals have additional duties, such as leading a diocese or archdiocese or running a department of the Roman Curia.

A cardinal's other main function is electing the pope whenever, by death or resignation, the seat becomes vacant. In 1059, the right of electing the pope was reserved to the principal clergy of Rome and the bishops of the seven suburbicarian sees. During the sede vacante, the period between a pope's death and the election of his successor, the day-to-day governance of the Church as a whole is in the hands of the College of Cardinals. The right to enter the conclave of cardinals who elect the pope is now limited to those who are not over 80 years old on the day of the pope's death or resignation.

The term cardinal at one time applied to any priest permanently assigned or incardinated to a church,[1] or specifically to the senior priest of an important church, based on the Latin cardo (hinge), meaning "principal" or "chief". The term was applied in this sense as early as the ninth century to the priests of the tituli (parishes) of the diocese of Rome.[1] A remnant of these earlier, less lofty Cardinals, is retained by the Church of England, where the title of "Cardinal" is up to the present held by the two senior members of the College of Minor Canons of St Paul's Cathedral.

In the twelfth century the practice of appointing ecclesiastics from outside Rome as cardinals began, with each of them being assigned a church in Rome as his titular church, or being linked with one of the suburbicarian dioceses, while still being incardinated in a diocese other than that of Rome.

Contents

History

Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister of France.

The election of the pope was not always reserved to the cardinals; the pope was originally elected by the clergy and the people of the diocese of Rome. In medieval times, Roman nobility gained influence. The Holy Roman Emperors had a hand in choosing the pontiff. But as the pope gained greater political independence, the right of election was with the bull In nomine Domini reserved to cardinals in 1059, leaving the emperor only with a vague right of approbation.

However the influence of temporal rulers, notably the French kings, largely reemerged via cardinals of certain nationalities or politically significant movements; there even developed traditions entitling certain monarchs — e.g. of Austria, Spain, and Portugal — to nominate one of their trusted clerical subjects to be created cardinal, a so-called crown-cardinal.

In theory, the pope could substitute another body of electors for the College of Cardinals. Some proposed that the Synod of Bishops should perform this function, a proposal that was not accepted, because, among other reasons, the Synod of Bishops can only meet when called by the pope.

In early modern times, cardinals often had important roles in secular affairs. In some cases, they took on powerful positions in government. An example of this was found in Henry VIII's England where his chief minister was Cardinal Wolsey. An even more prominent example is that of Cardinal Richelieu, whose power was so great that he was for many years the real ruler of France.[2] Richelieu was so successful that his successor, Jules Mazarin, was also a cardinal. Guillaume Dubois and André-Hercule de Fleury complete the list of the "four great" cardinals to have ruled France.

As of 2011, the youngest cardinal is Reinhard Marx (born 1953, elevated 2010) - the Archbishop of Munich and Freising. The oldest living cardinal, following the death of Cardinal Mayer in 2010, is Ersilio Tonini, the Archbishop Emeritus of Ravenna-Cervia (born 1914, elevated 1994).

College and orders of cardinalate

Pope Sixtus V limited the number of cardinals to 70, composed of six cardinal bishops, 50 cardinal priests, and 14 cardinal deacons; however, Pope John XXIII began to exceed the overall limit of 70, and this continued under his successors. At the start of 1971, Pope Paul VI set an age limit of eighty years for electors, who were to number no more than 120, but set no limit to the number of cardinals as a whole, including those over eighty. (As a result of the setting of the age limit at the start of 1971, twenty-five living cardinals lost the right to participate in a conclave.) Since Popes can dispense from church laws,[3] they have sometimes brought the number of cardinals under the age of 80 to more than 120, perhaps calculating that the number would be sufficiently reduced by the time the need for a conclave would arise.[4][5][6] And in fact, since the 120 limit was enacted, no conclave has been held with even a full 120 entitled to participate. Pope Paul VI also increased the number of cardinal bishops by giving that rank to patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches who are made cardinals.

Titular church

Each cardinal takes on a titular church, either a church in the city of Rome or one of the suburbicarian sees. The only exception is for patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches. The Dean of the College of Cardinals in addition to such a titular church also receives the titular bishopric of Ostia, the primary suburbicarian see. Cardinals governing a particular Church retain that church.

Title and reference style

Since 1630, cardinals have taken the style Eminence. In accordance with tradition, they sign by placing the title "Cardinal" (abbreviated Card.) after their personal name and before their surname as, for instance, "John Card(inal) Doe" or, in Latin, "Ioannes Card(inalis) Cognomen". Similarly, the official signature of popes inserts the Latin title Papa (abbreviated Pp.[7] immediately after the personal name, as "Benedictus Pp. XVI" for Pope Benedict XVI. Some writers, such as James-Charles Noonan,[8] hold that, in the case of cardinals, the form used for signatures should be used also when referring to them, even in English; and this is the usual but not the only way of referring to cardinals in Latin.[9] Several influential stylebooks, both secular[10] and religious,[11] however, indicate that the correct form for referring to a cardinal in English is as "Cardinal <Name> <Surname>. This style is also generally followed on the websites of the Holy See and episcopal conferences.[12]

A well-known instance of the "John Cardinal Doe" style is that in the proclamation, in Latin, of the election of a new pope by the cardinal protodeacon: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum (first name) Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem (last name), ..."[13] (Meaning: "I announce to you a great joy; we have a Pope: The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord, Lord (first name) Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church (last name), ...")

Orders

Cardinal bishop

Cardinal Sodano, current Dean of the College

Cardinal bishops, or cardinals of the Episcopal Order, are among the most senior prelates of the Catholic Church. Since most cardinals are also bishops, the title of cardinal bishop only means that the cardinal in question holds the title of one of the "suburbicarian" sees — they include the Dean of the College of Cardinals — or is a patriarch of an Eastern Catholic church.

The cardinal bishops are the only order of cardinals who have always been required to be bishops, and in former times when a cardinal of one of the lower orders became a cardinal bishop, and so the head of a diocese, he was consecrated a bishop. Since 1962 all cardinals have been required to receive episcopal consecration unless they were granted an exemption from this obligation by the Pope; however, since each of the suburbicarian sees is now headed by its own bishop and not the cardinal bishop himself, theoretically, a cardinal could now occupy any rank within the Sacred College without receiving episcopal consecration.[citation needed]

The Dean, the head (as primus inter pares) of the College of Cardinals, is elected by the cardinal bishops holding suburbicarian sees from among their own number, an election, however, that must be approved by the pope. Formerly the position of Dean belonged to the longest-serving of the cardinal bishops, all six of whom then headed a suburbicarian see. Though these sees are now seven (Ostia and Velletri having been separated in 1914), there are only six cardinal bishops, since the Dean always adds the title of Ostia to his original suburbicarian diocese.

In early times the privilege of papal election was not reserved to the cardinals, and for centuries the pope was customarily a Roman priest and never a bishop from elsewhere; to preserve apostolic succession the rite of consecrating the pope as a bishop had to be performed by someone who was already a bishop. The rule remains that, if the person elected pope is not yet a bishop, he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal bishop of Ostia.

Currently the cardinal bishops of the suburbicarian diocese are:

For a period ending in the mid-20th century, long-serving cardinal priests were entitled to fill vacancies that arose among the cardinal bishops, just as cardinal deacons of ten years' standing are still entitled to become cardinal priests. Since then, cardinals have been advanced to cardinal bishop exclusively by Papal appointment.

In 1965 Pope Paul VI decreed in his motu proprio Ad Purpuratorum Patrum that patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches who were named cardinals would also be part of the episcopal order, ranked after the six cardinal bishops of the suburbicarian sees (who had been relieved of direct responsibilities for those sees by Pope John XXIII three years earlier). Not holding a suburbicarian see, they cannot elect the dean nor become dean. The four Eastern patriarchs who are now cardinal bishops are the following:

The Latin Rite Patriarchs of Lisbon and Venice, while in practice always made cardinals at the consistory after they take possession of their sees, are made cardinal priests, not cardinal bishops. Although the incumbents of such prestigious sees are usually created cardinal, no see carries an actual right to the cardinalate.

Cardinal priest

Cardinal Sales, current Cardinal Protopriest.

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. Those who are named cardinal priests today are generally bishops of important dioceses throughout the world, though some hold Curial positions.

In modern times the name "cardinal priest" is interpreted as meaning a cardinal who is of the order of priests. Originally, however, this referred to certain key priests of important churches of the Diocese of Rome, who were recognized as the cardinal priests, the important priests chosen by the pope to advise him in his duties as Bishop of Rome (the Latin cardo means "hinge"). Certain clerics in many dioceses at the time, not just that of Rome, were said to be the key personnel — the term gradually became exclusive to Rome to indicate those entrusted with electing the bishop of Rome, the pope.

While the cardinalate has long been expanded beyond the Roman pastoral clergy and Roman Curia, every cardinal priest has titular church in Rome, though they may be bishops or archbishops elsewhere, just as cardinal bishops are given one of the suburban dioceses around Rome. Pope Paul VI abolished all administrative rights cardinals had with regard to their titular churches, though the cardinal's name and coat of arms are still posted in the church, and they are expected to preach there if convenient when they are in Rome.

While the number of cardinals was small from the times of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance, and frequently smaller than the number of recognized churches entitled to a cardinal priest, in the 16th century the College expanded markedly. In 1587 Pope Sixtus V sought to arrest this growth by fixing the maximum size of the College at 70, including 50 cardinal priests, about twice the historical number. This limit was respected until 1958, and the list of titular churches modified only on rare occasions, generally due to a building falling into disrepair. When Pope John XXIII abolished the limit, he began to add new churches to the list, which Popes Paul VI and John Paul II continued to do. Today there are close to 150 titular churches, out of over 300 churches in Rome.

The cardinal who is the longest-serving member of the order of cardinal priests is titled cardinal protopriest. He had certain ceremonial duties in the conclave that have effectively ceased because he would generally be over the age of 80, past which cardinals are barred from the conclave. The current cardinal protopriest is Eugênio de Araújo Sales of Brazil.

Cardinal deacon

The cardinal deacons are the lowest-ranking cardinals. Cardinals elevated to the diaconal order are either officials of the Roman Curia or priests elevated after their 80th birthday. Bishops with diocesan responsibilities, however, are created cardinal priests.

Cardinal deacons derive originally from the seven deacons in the Papal Household and the seven deacons who supervised the Church's works in the districts of Rome during the early Middle Ages, when church administration was effectively the government of Rome and provided all social services. Cardinal deacons are given title to one of these deaconries.

Under the 1587 decree of Pope Sixtus V, which fixed the maximum size of the College of Cardinals, there were 14 cardinal deacons. Later the number increased. As of 2005, there were over 50 churches recognized as cardinalatial deaconries, though there were only 30 cardinals of the order of deacons. Cardinal deacons have long enjoyed the right to "opt for the order of cardinal priests" (optazione) after they have been cardinal deacons for 10 years. They may on such elevation take a vacant "title" (a church allotted to a cardinal priest as the Roman church with which he is associated) or their diaconal church may be temporarily elevated to a cardinal priest's "title" for that occasion. When elevated to cardinal priests, they take their precedence according to the day they were first made cardinal deacons (thus ranking above cardinal priests who were elevated to the college after them, regardless of order).

When not celebrating Mass but still serving a liturgical function, such as the semiannual Urbi et Orbi papal blessing, some Papal Masses and some events at Ecumenical Councils, cardinal deacons can be recognized by the dalmatics they would don with the simple white mitre (so called mitra simplex).

Cardinal Proto-Deacon or Senior Cardinal Deacon

The Cardinal protodeacon or Senior Cardinal Deacon (that is, the senior cardinal deacon in order of appointment to the College of Cardinals) has the privilege of announcing a new pope's election and name (once he has been ordained to the Episcopate[14]) from the central balcony at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City State. In the past, during papal coronations, the Proto-Deacon also had the honor of bestowing the pallium on the new pope and crowning him with the papal tiara. The Proto-Deacon's privilege of crowning a new pope ended when Pope John Paul I chose not to be crowned and opted for a simpler papal inauguration ceremony, and his two immediate successors also decided not to be crowned. However, the Proto-Deacon still has the privilege of bestowing the pallium on a new pope at his papal inauguration. “Acting in the place of the Roman Pontiff, he also confers the pallium upon metropolitan bishops or gives the pallium to their proxies.”[15] The current Cardinal Proto-Deacon is Jean-Louis Tauran.

Protodeacons since 1911

Cardinal Tauran, current Cardinal Protodeacon.

Special types of cardinals

Camerlengo

The Cardinal Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, assisted by the Vice-Camerlengo and the other prelates of the office known as the Apostolic Camera, has functions that in essence are limited to a period of sede vacante of the papacy. He is to collate information about the financial situation of all administrations dependent on the Holy See and present the results to the College of Cardinals, as they gather for the papal conclave.[16]

Cardinals who are not bishops

Until 1917 it was possible for someone who was not a priest, but only in minor orders, to become a cardinal (see "lay cardinals", below), but they were enrolled only in the order of cardinal deacons. For example, in the 16th century, Reginald Pole was a cardinal for 18 years before he was ordained a priest. In 1917 it was established that all cardinals, even cardinal deacons, had to be priests,[17] and in 1962, John XXIII set the norm that all cardinals be bishops. Consequently, canon 351 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law requires that a cardinal be at least in the order of priesthood at his appointment, and that those who are not already bishops must receive episcopal consecration, a rule from which dispensation may be obtained from the pope, as by Cardinals Avery Dulles, Roberto Tucci, Albert Vanhoye, and most recently Domenico Bartolucci. A cardinal who is not a bishop is still entitled to wear and use the episcopal vestments and other pontificalia (episcopal regalia: mitre, crozier, zucchetto, pectoral cross and ring). Almost all of the prominent priests who were elevated to the cardinalate as cardinal-deacons were near or over the age of 80 when elevated, and so would not have participated in a papal conclave. For those priests over 80 who became cardinal-deacons and were not ordained to the episcopacy, this is the highest position they can normally attain in the Church hierarchy (though all cardinals rank above bishops in rank and order of precedence, those cardinals who are not bishops do not have the right to perform the functions reserved solely to bishops, such as ordination).

"Lay cardinals"

At various times there have been cardinals who had only received first tonsure and minor orders but not yet been ordained as deacons or priests. Though clerics, they were inaccurately called "lay cardinals" and were permitted to marry. Teodolfo Mertel was among the last of the lay cardinals. When he died in 1899 he was the last surviving cardinal who was not at least ordained a priest. With the revision of the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV, only those who are already priests or bishops may be appointed cardinals.[18] Since the time of Pope John XXIII a priest who is appointed a cardinal must be consecrated a bishop, unless he obtains a dispensation.[19]

Cardinals in pectore or secret cardinals

In addition to the named cardinals, the pope may name secret cardinals or cardinals in pectore (Latin for in the breast).

During the Western Schism many cardinals were created by the contending popes. Beginning with the reign of Pope Martin V,[1] cardinals were created without publishing their names until later, termed creati et reservati in pectore.[20]

A cardinal named in pectore is known only to the pope; not even the cardinal so named is necessarily aware of his elevation, and in any event cannot function as a cardinal while his appointment is in pectore. Today, cardinals are named in pectore to protect them or their congregations from reprisals if their identities were known.

If conditions change, so that the pope judges it safe to make the appointment public, he may do so at any time. The cardinal in question then ranks in precedence with those raised to the cardinalate at the time of his in pectore appointment. If a pope dies before revealing the identity of an in pectore cardinal, the cardinalate expires. Some speculate that the pope could leave instructions in writing, perhaps in his will, for the appointment to be made known after his death; but it is difficult to imagine a case in which the pope would consider that his own death would remove the obstacle in the way of publishing the name.

Of the 232 cardinals that Pope John Paul II elevated, four were named in pectore.[21][22] The identities of three of these were subsequently revealed:

Vesture and privileges

Cardinal Sarr with a ferraiolo, and wearing a red cassock, but not the rest of the choir dress
Cardinals Walter Kasper (left) and Godfried Danneels (right) wearing their choir dress: scarlet (red) cassock, white rochet trimmed with lace, scarlet mozetta, scarlet biretta (over the usual scarlet zucchetto), and pectoral cross on cord.

When in choir dress, a Latin-rite cardinal wears scarlet garments — the blood-like red symbolizes a cardinal's willingness to die for his faith.[23][24] Excluding the rochet — which is always white — the scarlet garments include the cassock, mozzetta, and biretta (over the usual scarlet zucchetto). The biretta of a cardinal is distinctive not merely for its scarlet color, but also for the fact that it does not have a pompon or tassel on the top as do the birettas of other prelates. Until the 1460s, it was customary for cardinals to wear a violet or blue cape unless granted the privilege of wearing red when acting on papal business. His normal-wear simar is black but has scarlet piping and a scarlet fascia (sash-like belt). Occasionally, a cardinal wears a scarlet ferraiolo which is a cape worn over the shoulders, tied at the neck in a bow by narrow strips of cloth in the front, without any 'trim' or piping on it. (It is because of the scarlet color of cardinals' vesture that the bird of the same name has become known as such.)[25]

Eastern Catholic cardinals continue to wear the normal dress appropriate to their liturgical tradition, though some may line their cassocks with scarlet and wear scarlet fascias, or in some cases, wear Eastern-style cassocks entirely of scarlet. (There is a photograph[26] of Josyf Slipyj, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cardinal, wearing a galero on top of his red klobuk.)

In previous times, at the consistory at which the pope named a new cardinal, he would bestow upon him a distinctive wide-brimmed hat called a galero. This custom has been discontinued, and the investiture now takes place with the scarlet biretta. In ecclesiastical heraldry, however, the scarlet galero is still displayed on the cardinal's coat of arms. Cardinals had the right to display the galero in their cathedral, and when a cardinal died, it would be suspended from the ceiling above his tomb. Some cardinals will still have a galero made, even though it is not officially part of their apparel.

To symbolize their bond with the papacy, the pope gives each newly appointed cardinal a gold ring,[27] which is traditionally kissed by Catholics when greeting a cardinal (as with a bishop's episcopal ring). The pope chooses the image on the outside: under Pope Benedict XVI it is a modern depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus, with Mary and John to each side. The ring includes the pope's coat of arms on the inside.

Cardinals have in canon law a "privilege of forum" (i.e., exemption from being judged by ecclesiastical tribunals of ordinary rank): only the pope is competent to judge them in matters subject to ecclesiastical jurisdiction (cases that refer to matters that are spiritual or linked with the spiritual, or with regard to infringement of ecclesiastical laws and whatever contains an element of sin, where culpability must be determined and the appropriate ecclesiastical penalty imposed). This does not exempt them from being judged for alleged violations of civil law. The pope either decides the case himself or delegates the decision to another tribunal, usually one of the tribunals or congregations of the Roman Curia. Absent such delegation, other ecclesiastical courts, even the Roman Rota, are incompetent to judge a case against a cardinal.[28]

In popular culture

See also

Cardinal Pell wearing the ordinary dress of a cardinal: black cassock with scarlet (red) piping and buttons, scarlet fascia (sash), pectoral cross on a chain, and a scarlet zucchetto.
Cardinal Bertone in dress for hot tropical countries (white cassock with scarlet piping and buttons)

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b c  Sägmüller, Johannes Baptist (1913). "Cardinal (1)". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 
  2. ^ Henry Kitchell Webster, Hutton Webster, Early European History, p. 604
  3. ^ Are There Any Limitations on the Power of the Pope?
  4. ^ Electing a New Pope
  5. ^ College at 203, 121 Electors & 82 Non-Electors
  6. ^ There would also have been 121 under-80 cardinals after Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 consistory, if Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao had not died between the announcement of the consistory and the date on which it was held.
  7. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia:Ecclesiastical Abbreviations
  8. ^ Noonan, The Church Visible, p. 205
  9. ^ An Internet search will uncover some hundreds of examples of "Cardinalis Ioannes <surname>", examples modern and centuries-old (such as this from 1620), and the phrase "dominus cardinalis Petrus Caputius" is found in a document of 1250.
  10. ^ "At first reference Cardinal John Doe. At subsequent references the cardinal or Doe" (Reuters Handbook of Journalism). The Associated Press stylebook, quoted by Douglas LeBlanc on Anglicanism out of AP style at the Times? agrees fully: "The preferred form for first reference is to use Cardinal, Archbishop or Bishop before the individual's name: Cardinal Timothy Manning, archbishop of Los Angeles. On second reference, Manning or the cardinal."
  11. ^ The Publications Style Book of the Franciscan Holy Name Province lays down: "Use the form 'Cardinal John Smith' instead of the older 'John Cardinal Smith'", and cites the Catholic News Service stylebook.
  12. ^ The websites of the Holy See (except for signatures), and of the Episcopal Conferences in the United States, England and Wales, Ireland and the Australia agree with the stylebooks. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland uses both styles side by side. On diocesan sites, the "John Cardinal Doe" style is found on, for example, those of Boston, Chicago, Dublin, New York, Toronto, Washington, Galveston-Houston, Detroit, Durban, Colombo, Bombay, and the "Cardinal John Doe" on, for example, those of Armagh,Los Angeles, Philadelphia, St Andrews and Edinburgh, Wellington, Westminster.
  13. ^ Benedict XVI, 19 April 2005
  14. ^ Ap. Const. Universi Dominici Gregis, No. 89
  15. ^ Canon 355 §2
  16. ^ Pastor bonus: Administrative Services
  17. ^ Canon 232 §1 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law
  18. ^ canon 232 §1 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law
  19. ^ Cf. canon 351 §1 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law
  20. ^ "Consistories of Martin V - July 23, 1423 (II), Note". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/consistories-xv.htm#MartinV. 
  21. ^ "His Holiness John Paul II Short Biography". Holy See Press Office. 30 June 2005. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_breve_en.html. Retrieved 2007-04-20. 
  22. ^ "His Holiness John Paul II Biography". Holy See Press Office. 30 June 2005. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_pontificato_en.html#2003. Retrieved 2007-04-20. 
  23. ^ Pope Benedict ... He told them that the red signifies the dignity of their new office and that they must be ready "even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the people of God, for freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church."
  24. ^ Applause and tears in Basilica greet Pontiff (November 26, 2007) Belfast Telegraph. Accessed 2008-06-01. Quote: "In a ceremony televised across the world cardinal-elect Sean Brady knelt before Pope Benedict XVI and pledged his allegiance to the Church before receiving his special red birretta — a symbol of a cardinal's dignity and willingness to shed blood for the increase of the Christian faith."
  25. ^ Instruction on the dress, titles and coat-of-arms of cardinals, bishops and lesser prelates.. L'Osservatore Romano, English ed.. 17 April 1969. pp. vol.4. http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/instruction69.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-01. 
  26. ^ photograph
  27. ^ [Michael Paulson Bling! examination of the ring of Cardinal O'Malley, with photos. Boston.com Boston Globe March 25, 2006. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  28. ^ Canon 1405 §1 and canon 1406 §2

External links


Translations:

Cardinal

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - kardinal, kardinaltal, mængdetal, rød damekappe med hætte
adj. - vigtigst, afgørende

idioms:

  • cardinal number    grundtal, mængdetal
  • cardinal point    verdenshjørne
  • cardinal sin    dødssynd

Nederlands (Dutch)
kardinaal, hoofdtelwoord, korte scharlakenrode damesmantel met capuchon, kardinaalrood

Français (French)
n. - (Relig) cardinal
adj. - cardinal

idioms:

  • cardinal number    nombre cardinal
  • cardinal point    point cardinal
  • cardinal sin    péché capital

Deutsch (German)
n. - Kardinal
adj. - Kardinal-, Grund-

idioms:

  • cardinal number    Grundzahl, Kardinalzahl
  • cardinal point    Himmelsrichtung
  • cardinal sin    Todsünde

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (θρησκ.) καρδινάλιος, (ορνιθ.) καρδινάλιος (ο λοφιοφόρος)
adj. - θεμελιώδης, κύριος, πρωτεύων, πρώτιστος
num. - απόλυτος

idioms:

  • cardinal number    απόλυτος αριθμός
  • cardinal point    σημείο του ορίζοντα
  • cardinal sin    θανάσιμο αμάρτημα

Italiano (Italian)
cardinale, aggettivo numerale cardinale

idioms:

  • cardinal number    numero cardinale, aggettivo numerale cardinale
  • cardinal point    punto cardinale
  • cardinal sin    peccato mortale

Português (Portuguese)
n., -
adj. - cardeal (m), cardinal (m), fundamental (m)

idioms:

  • cardinal number    número (m) cardinal
  • cardinal point    ponto (m) cardeal
  • cardinal sin    pecado (m) capital

Русский (Russian)
кардинал, количественное числительное

idioms:

  • cardinal number    количественное числительное
  • cardinal point    важный пункт, север/запад/юг или восток
  • cardinal sin    смертный грех

Español (Spanish)
n. - cardenal, color rojo, capa de mujer
adj. - cardenal, cardinal

idioms:

  • cardinal number    número cardinal
  • cardinal point    punto cardinal
  • cardinal sin    pecado capital

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kardinal, kort damkappa med huva
adj. - huvud-, högröd
num. - grundtal

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
枢机主教, 鲜红色北美红雀, 主要的, 深红色的

idioms:

  • cardinal number    基数, 纯数
  • cardinal point    基点效应, 方位基点
  • cardinal sin    使灵魂死亡的七大罪

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 樞機主教, 鮮紅色北美紅雀
adj. - 主要的, 深紅色的

idioms:

  • cardinal number    基數, 純數
  • cardinal point    基點效應, 方位基點
  • cardinal sin    使靈魂死亡的七大罪

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 추기경, 심홍색
adj. - 기본적인, 진홍색의

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 枢機卿, カージナル, 深紅, 基数
adj. - 基本的な, 主要の, 深紅の, 主要な, 緋色の

idioms:

  • cardinal number    基数
  • cardinal point    基本点, 主要点
  • cardinal sin    七大罪

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) كاردينال في الكنيسه الكاثوليكيه (صفه) أساسي, جوهري‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חשמן, ציפור-שיר אמריקאית‬
adj. - ‮עיקרי, ראשי, יסודי, ארגמני‬


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cardinal

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Math
mathworld.wolfram.com
 
 
 
Related topics:
decardinalize
general continuum hypothesis (mathematics)
Card. (abbreviation)

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