Vatican tours: the college of cardinals

VATICAN TOURS: THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS

The sacred college of cardinals is the colective name given to the body of bishops chosen by the pope to provide their advice and to gather together after the death of a pontiff to elect a successor.

The name cardinal comes from the latin " cardo " ( hinge ) and was probably first used as a colloquial term to describe certain advisers considered essential to the governing of the Church.

By custom, the college is divided int three cathegories:

1- bishops

2- priests

3-deacons

The college of cardinals did not exist in the early Church, but it came into existence in the XII century receiving formal recognition in 1150.

The size of the college has varied widely over the years. Pope Sistus V decreed that there should be only 70 members, a number that remained constant until 1958. Pope John XXIII increased the number to 75 and further additions followed under pope Paul VI and John Paul II. Currently there are around 190 cardinals.

However, cardinals electing the pope inside the sistine chapel must be younger than 80 years old, as pope decreed in 1975. So, at the moment the cardinals electors are in the number of 120.

Cardinals are chosen by the pope and are introduced into the college during a consistory, that is a ceremony where the pope updates the cardinals with his last decisions.

Cardinals carry the high honorific title of " Prince of the Church ", and are called " Eminence ".

While the Apostolic See is Vacant, the government of the Church is in the hands of the sacred college of Cardinals only with regard to ordinary business and those matters which cannot be deffered, and with regard to the preparation of all those matters which are necessary for the election of the new Pope.

Consequently, during the vacancy, the Sacred College has no power or jurisdiction in those matters which pertain to the Supreme Pontiff while he is alive; all those matters must be reserved for the future Pope alone.

When business must be expedited, the Sacred College of Cardinals should act according to the decision of the majority.

During the vacancy, cardinals should wear the customary red-trimmed black cassock and red sash. So often happens that when sightseeing the vatican during the Conclave, you can meet cardinals talking one another.

All cardinals who are heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia and the Cardinal Secretary of State, on the occasion of the death of the Pontiff, cease from their offices with the exception of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the Cardinal Penitentiary and the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome.

The most important task that the sacred college of Cardinals has is to elect the new Pope inside the Sistine Chapel.