What are the Tasks and Ranks of Cardinals?
Question: How many different types of Cardinals are there? And what do they actually do?
Answer: The role of a cardinal is historically and primarily that of an advisor to the pope and a member of the College of Cardinals. Here are some key aspects of their role:
- The most important responsibilities of cardinals is to participate in the election of a new pope in a conclave. Only cardinals who are under 80 may vote in a conclave. So while Cardinal Brislin will be eligible to vote in a conclave until September 2036, Cardinal Napier, at 82, is above the voting age.
- The College of Cardinals serves as an advisory body to the pope. The pope consults the cardinals on various matters concerning the Church, including the appointment of bishops, the administration of dioceses, and important decisions regarding doctrine and policy.
- Many cardinals hold high-ranking positions within the Vatican’s curia, which is the administrative body of the Holy See. They may serve as heads of dicasteries (departments) that oversee specific areas of the Church’s operation, such as the Dicasteries for the Doctrine of the Faith or for Bishops (whose newly-appointed heads will receive their red heads on September 30).
- Most cardinals head dioceses or archdioceses. As such, they are responsible for the pastoral care of their respective regions. This has been the case with all three South African cardinals.
- Cardinals may also play a role in international diplomacy, representing the Holy See on various diplomatic missions, or participate in ecumenical and interfaith dialogues.
There are three ranks of cardinal. Archbishop Brislin has been appointed cardinal-priest.
Cardinal Bishop: The highest rank among the cardinals. This rank is usually given to the six cardinals who hold the title of cardinal bishop of the so-called suburbicarian sees surrounding Rome. These sees traditionally held by cardinals are Ostia, Velletri-Segni, Porto-Santa Rufina, Albano, Frascati, and Palestrina.
Cardinal Priest: This is the most common rank among cardinals. They are assigned a titular church in the Diocese of Rome. Cardinal McCann was assigned the Roman Basilica of Santa Prassede, Cardinal Napier the church of San Francesco d’Assisi ad Acilia.
Cardinal priests are also divided into three orders of precedence, determined by the date of their elevation to the College of Cardinals. This governs things like the order of procession.
Cardinal Deacon: This is the lowest rank among the cardinals. Historically, it was the transitional stage before a cardinal would be elevated to the rank of cardinal-priest. However, in recent times, some cardinals have chosen to remain in the rank of cardinal deacon.
These ranks are primarily honorary and do not imply any jurisdictional or hierarchical power within the Church. A cardinal who heads a diocese has no authority over other bishops, though his position may give his views greater influence.
Published in the September 2023 issue of The Southern Cross magazine
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