What Is A Cardinal In The Catholic Church

The role of cardinals in the catholic church immediately below the pope in the hierarchy of the catholic church are the cardinals.

They are his chief counselors and contribute to governance of the roman catholic church. Sanctae romanae ecclesiae cardinalis literally cardinal of the holy roman church is a leading bishop and prince of the college of cardinals in the catholic church appointed by the pope for life cardinals duties include participating in papal consistories and in conclaves when the holy see is vacant. They have many responsibilities. Cardinals attend meetings of the college and are available to the pope as needed.

They are appointed by the pope as members of the college of cardinals. According to the catholic encyclopedia by the term cardinal cardinalis was originally understood every priest permanently attached to a church it became the usual designation of every priest. Most have additional missions such as leading a diocese or a. The primary responsibility of a cardinal is to elect a new pope when a pope dies or abdicates the papacy.

However cardinals don t just hang out doing nothing until the pope dies.