College of Cardinals
Body of the Catholic Church responsible for electing the Pope
| College of Cardinals | |
|---|---|
| |
| Formation | 1150 |
| Type | Ecclesiastical organization |
| Headquarters | Vatican City |
| Membership | N/A |
| Language | N/A |
| Leader title | Dean of the College of Cardinals |
| Leader name | Giovanni Battista Re |
| Website | N/A |
The College of Cardinals (Latin: Collegium Cardinalium) is the body of all cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. Its primary responsibility is to elect a new Pope when the Holy See becomes vacant. The College also advises the Pope on church matters when summoned.
History[edit | edit source]
The College of Cardinals was formally established in 1150. However, the role of cardinals dates back to the early days of the Church, with the term "cardinal" originally referring to a senior priest of a significant church in Rome.
Structure[edit | edit source]
The College of Cardinals is divided into three orders:
The Dean of the College of Cardinals presides over the College, assisted by the Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals. The Camerlengo administers the property and revenues of the Holy See during a papal interregnum.
Functions[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the College of Cardinals is to elect the Pope. This is done in a conclave, a secret meeting held in the Sistine Chapel after the death or resignation of a Pope. The cardinals also serve as principal advisors to the Pope and hold various administrative and pastoral roles within the Church.
Membership[edit | edit source]
As of 2023, the College of Cardinals consists of 223 members, with 124 being eligible to vote in a papal conclave (cardinals under the age of 80). Cardinals are appointed by the Pope and are usually bishops or archbishops of significant dioceses or heads of important departments within the Roman Curia.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
 | This Catholic Church–related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
