Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church who are titular clergy of the Diocese of Rome, thereby serving as the primary advisors to the Bishop of Rome. They are almost always bishops and generally hold important roles within the church, such as leading prominent archdioceses or heading dicasteries within the Roman Curia .

They are titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, thereby serving as the primary advisors to the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). Cardinals are created by the pope and typically hold the title for life. Collectively, they constitute the College of Cardinals.

Active Near Age Limit; Cardinals. Electors; Non-Voting; Cardinal-Bishops; Cardinal-Priests; Cardinal-Deacons

Jan 24, 2025 · Present Cardinals of USA (17) 2023: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. (69), Cardinal-Deacon of S. Monica, Prefect of Dicastery for Bishops, President of Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo : 2022

Oct 6, 2024 · Put simply, a cardinal is a priest or a bishop who has been named by the pope to what is known as the Sacred College of Cardinals, so-called because it is a body, or college, of Church officials.

The College of Cardinals, more formally called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. [1] As of 22 January 2025, there are 252 cardinals, of whom 138 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinals are appointed by the pope for life but eligibility to vote ceases at the age of 80.

Jul 11, 2023 · Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church. They are almost always bishops and generally hold important roles within the church, such as leading prominent archdioceses or heading dicasteries within the Roman Curia.