College of Cardinals facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids College of Cardinals Collegium Cardinalium
Catholic Church

Leadership
Dean	Giovanni Battista Re Since 18 January 2020
Vice-Dean	Leonardo Sandri Since 18 January 2020
Protopriest	Michael Michai Kitbunchu Since 14 December 2016
Protodeacon	Dominique Mamberti Since 28 October 2024
Seats	249 (131 eligible to vote) John Paul II: 41 (5) Benedict XVI: 61 (21) Francis: 147 (105)
Elections
Voting system	Appointment for life by the pope

Cardinals wearing red robes during the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

The College of Cardinals (also known as the Collegium Cardinalium in Latin) is a special group of leaders in the Catholic Church. These leaders are called cardinals. As of August 2025, there are 249 cardinals. Out of these, 131 are eligible to vote for a new pope.

Cardinals are chosen by the pope and usually serve for their entire lives. However, if a cardinal turns 80 before the pope's position becomes empty (either by death or resignation), they cannot vote in the election for the next pope.

The College of Cardinals has been around since the Early Middle Ages. Popes and church councils have often set limits on how many cardinals there can be. From 1099 to 1986, there were about 2,900 cardinals in total.

History of Cardinals
What Cardinals Do
- Important Officials in the College
- How the Pope is Elected
See also

History of Cardinals

The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardō, which means "hinge." This suggests that cardinals are very important, like a hinge that helps things move. The role of a cardinal slowly developed over many centuries from the early clergy (church leaders) in Rome.

The term "cardinal" first appeared in a church record in 769 AD. At that time, it was decided that the Roman pontiff (the pope) should be chosen from among the deacons and cardinal priests.

During the time of Pope Stephen V (816–817), the three main groups of cardinals we see today began to form. These groups are cardinal deacons, cardinal priests, and cardinal bishops.

In 845, a church meeting decided that bishops should create cardinal titles or parishes in their towns. Around the same time, popes started sending cardinal priests from Rome on important missions. These missions included attending ceremonies, meetings, and diplomatic trips to other countries.

The College of Cardinals also played a big part in making important changes within the Church. In the 12th century, a major church council decided that only cardinals could become pope. This rule has since changed. By 1130, all three groups of cardinals were allowed to vote in papal elections. Before this, only cardinal bishops had this right.

From the 13th to the 15th centuries, the number of cardinals was usually less than thirty. Pope John XXII (1316–1334) made a rule to limit the college to twenty members. Later, popes sometimes increased the number of cardinals to raise money or form alliances with European countries.

How the College Size Changed

In 1352, a group of cardinals tried to limit the college to 20 members. They also said no new cardinals could be created until the number dropped to 16. However, Pope Innocent VI later said this rule was not valid.

By the end of the 14th century, cardinals were no longer only from Italy. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, there was often a struggle between cardinals and popes over the size of the college. Some popes increased the number to gain more supporters.

The Council of Basel (1431–1437) also tried to limit the college to 24 members. Later agreements made during papal elections in 1464, 1484, 1492, and 1513 had similar limits.

In 1517, Pope Leo X added 31 new cardinals, bringing the total to 65. This helped him have more support within the college. Pope Paul IV later increased the total to 70. By 1586, Pope Sixtus V set the number at 70. This number was divided into 14 cardinal deacons, 50 cardinal priests, and six cardinal bishops.

Popes followed this limit until Pope John XXIII increased the number several times. In January 1961, he raised it to 88. Pope Paul VI continued this growth, reaching 134 cardinals by April 1969. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the College of Cardinals became more international, with members from many different countries.

Who Can Vote for a Pope?

The total size of the college became less important when Pope Paul VI made a new rule in 1971. He decided that only cardinals under the age of 80 could vote for a new pope. In 1975, Pope Paul VI set the maximum number of these voting cardinals (called cardinal electors) at 120.

All popes after Paul VI have sometimes gone over this 120-cardinal limit. For example, Pope John Paul II had more than 120 voting cardinals in four of his nine groups of new cardinals. He reached a high of 135 in 2001 and 2003.

Pope Benedict XVI also had more than 120 voting cardinals in three of his five groups. He reached 125 in 2012. Pope Francis has gone over the limit in all 10 of his groups of new cardinals. He reached as many as 140 voting cardinals in December 2024.

Changes to Cardinal Ranks

In the 20th century, there were other changes to the different ranks of cardinals. In 1917, a church law stated that only priests or bishops could become cardinals. This ended a time when some cardinals might have only been deacons or had other lower church roles.

In 1961, Pope John XXIII decided that all cardinals should be bishops. He personally made the twelve cardinals who were not yet bishops into bishops.

In 1965, Pope Paul VI made a rule for Eastern Rite Patriarchs who become cardinals. They would no longer be given a church in Rome. Instead, they would keep their own church area and join the rank of cardinal bishops. This rank was previously only for the six cardinals in charge of special church areas near Rome.

In June 2018, Pope Francis made it easier for anyone chosen by the pope to become a cardinal bishop. These cardinals now have the same special rights as those in charge of the church areas near Rome.

Other Important Changes

Pope Francis changed the rules for the dean of the College of Cardinals in December 2019. The dean now serves for a five-year term, which the pope can renew. The rules for the vice-dean remained the same.

It is very rare for a cardinal to resign or be removed from the college. Between 1791 and 2018, only one cardinal was removed. Five cardinals resigned during this time.

What Cardinals Do

One important job of the college is to advise the pope on church matters. They meet when the pope calls them to a special meeting called a "consistory." This word comes from the Roman Emperor's old council. Cardinals also attend various church events, like the process of making someone a saint.

When a pope dies or resigns, the college gathers for a special meeting called a papal conclave. During this meeting, they elect the next pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in this election.

The college does not have ruling power on its own. Its power is very limited, except during the time when the pope's position is empty (called sede vacante). Even then, their powers are strictly controlled by church law.

Historically, cardinals were the clergy who served the churches in the city of Rome under the pope. The college became very important after the death of Emperor Henry III in 1056. Before this, powerful families in Rome often fought over who would become pope. Outside rulers, especially the Holy Roman Emperor, had a lot of say in who was chosen.

This was a problem because the goals of the Emperor and the Church were not always the same. Church leaders who wanted to reform the Church took advantage of the new, young king. In 1059, they decided that only the clergy of the Church in Rome could elect the pope. This was part of a bigger power struggle between the Church and the Emperor.

Giving the cardinals the exclusive right to elect a new pope was a huge change in power during the Early Medieval period. From the early 12th century, the College of Cardinals began to meet as one group. Before this, the cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons acted as separate groups.

Important Officials in the College

The dean of the College of Cardinals and the cardinal vice-dean are like the president and vice-president of the college. They are chosen by the cardinal bishops, but the pope must approve their election. They lead meetings and handle administrative tasks. However, they do not have authority over other cardinals. They are seen as "first among equals."

Other important church officials are usually cardinals. These include the secretary of the Roman Curia, the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, and the vicar general of Rome. The law of Vatican City State also requires that members of its law-making body be cardinals.

How the Pope is Elected

According to church rules, cardinals who turned 80 before the pope's position became empty cannot vote in papal elections. This rule was put in place to make sure the election date could not be changed to include or exclude certain cardinals based on their age.

Church law sets general requirements for a man to become a bishop. He must be a person of faith, have a good reputation, be at least 35 years old, and have a certain level of education and experience as a priest. Since 1389, cardinals have always chosen the Bishop of Rome (the pope) from among themselves. The rules for the conclave explain what to do if they elect someone who is not yet a bishop or lives outside Vatican City.

When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, there were 117 cardinals under the age of 80. Out of these, 115 participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.