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Cardinals |
"Can.
230 The
cardinals of the Holy Roman Church form the senate of the Roman pontiff
and are his principal advisers and assistants in the government of the
Church." (1917 Code of Canon Law)
"The right to elect the Roman Pontiff belongs
exclusively to the Cardinals of Holy Roman Church, with the exception of
those who have reached their eightieth birthday before the day of the
Roman Pontiff's death or the day when the Apostolic See becomes vacant.
The maximum number of Cardinal electors must not exceed one hundred and
twenty. The right of active election by any other ecclesiastical
dignitary or the intervention of any lay power of whatsoever grade or
order is absolutely excluded." (Pope John Paul II)
"[T]he duty of a cardinal is primarily concerned
with regular assistance to the Roman pontiff and the business matters of
the apostolic see" (Fifth Lateran Council)
"Since very special provision must be made that
our deeds be approved not only before God, whom we ought to please in
the first place, but also before people so that we can offer to others
an example to be imitated, we ordain that every cardinal show himself an
excellent ruler and overseer of his house and personal staff, with
regard to both what is open for all to see and what lies hidden within.
Therefore let each of them have the priests and deacons clad in
respectable garments, and make careful provision that no one in his
household who holds a benefice of any type, or is in holy orders, wears
multi-coloured clothes or a garment that has little connection with
ecclesiastical status." (Fifth Lateran Council)
"[Cardinals] are to visit at least once a year -
in person if they have been present in the curia, and by a suitable
deputy if they have been absent - the places of their titular basilica.
They are, with due care, to keep themselves informed about the clergy
and people of the churches subject to their basilica; they are to keep
under review the divine worship and the properties of the said churches;
above all, let them examine with care the lives of the clergy and their
parishioners, and with a father's affection encourage one and all to
live an upright and honorable life. For the development of divine
worship and the salvation of his own soul, each cardinal should give to
his basilica during his lifetime, or bequeath at the time of his death,
a sufficient amount for the suitable sustenance there of one priest; or,
if the basilica needs repairs or some other form of aid, let him leave
or donate as much as he may in conscience decide." (Fifth Lateran
Council)
"Since the cardinals assist the Roman pontiff,
the common father of all Christians, it is very improper for them to be
patrons of or special pleaders for individuals. We have therefore
decided, lest they adopt partiality of any kind, that they are not to
set up as promoters or defenders of princes or communities or of any
other persons against anyone, except to the extent that justice and
equity demands and the dignity and rank of such people requires. Rather,
separated from all private interest, let them be available and engage
with all diligence in calming and settling any disputes. Let them
promote with due piety the maintenance of the just business of princes
and all other persons, especially the poor and religious, and let them
offer help in accordance with their resources and their official
responsibility to those who are oppressed and unjustly burdened."
(Fifth Lateran Council)
"Since the care of the most important business is
the special concern of cardinals, it is for them to use their ability to
know which regions have been infected by heresies, errors and
superstitions opposed to the true orthodox faith; where the
ecclesiastical discipline of the Lord's commandments is lacking; and
which kings and princes or peoples are being troubled, or fear to be
troubled, by wars. Cardinals shall apply themselves to obtain
information on these and similar matters and make a report to us or the
current Roman pontiff so that, by earnest effort, opportune and saving
remedies for such evils and afflictions can be thought out. Since by
frequent, almost daily, experience it is known that many evils quite
often occur to provinces and cities on account of the absence of their
own officially appointed legates, and various scandals are springing up
which are not without disadvantages to the apostolic see, we decree and
ordain that cardinals who are in charge of provinces or cities, under
the title of legates, may not administer them through lieutenants or
officials, but they are obliged to be present in person for the greater
part of the time, and to rule and govern them with all vigilance."
(Fifth Lateran Council)
"Since the cardinals of the holy Roman church
take precedence in honor and dignity over all the other members of the
church after the sovereign pontiff, it is proper and right that they be
distinguished beyond all others by the purity of their life and the
excellence of their virtues. On that account, we not only exhort and
advise them but also decree and order that henceforth each of the
cardinals following the teaching of the Apostle, so live a sober, chaste
and godly life that he shines out before people as one who abstains not
merely from evil but from every appearance of evil. In the first place,
let him honor God by his works. Let all of them be vigilant, constant
at the divine office and the celebration of masses, and maintain their
chapels in a worthy place, as they were wont to do. Their house and
establishment, table and furniture, should not attract blame by display
or splendor or superfluous equipment or in any other way, so as to
avoid any fostering of sin or excess, but, as is right, let them deserve
to be called mirrors of moderation and frugality. Therefore, let them
find satisfaction in what contributes to priestly modesty; let them act
with kindness and respect both in public and in private, towards
prelates and other distinguished persons who come to the Roman curia;
and let them undertake with grace and generosity the business committed
to them by ourself and our successors." (Fifth Lateran Council) "Each cardinal present in the curia should make
an annual visitation of his titular church in person; each one not
present should make it through a suitable deputy. He should also inquire
carefully concerning the clergy and the people of his dependent
churches, and make useful provision with regard to the divine worship
and the goods of these churches as well as the life and conduct of the
clergy and parishioners, about whom, since they are his sheep, he will
have to render an account at the severe judgment of God. As regards the
time of the visitation and other things, let him observe what is laid
down in our decree on synodal councils." (Council of Basel)
"Although both the dignity itself and the
cardinal's own promise urge him to toil at the holy tasks just
mentioned, yet results will be greater if the tasks are spread among
individuals. Therefore cardinal-bishops shall inquire about what regions
are infected with new or old heresies, errors and superstitions;
cardinal-priests shall inquire about where conduct, observance of the
divine commandments and ecclesiastical discipline are lax;
cardinal-deacons shall inquire about which kings, princes and peoples
are troubled by actual or possible wars. Like busy bees, both with the
supreme pontiff and among themselves, they should promote these holy
works with diligence and in detail, striving to provide a remedy where
this is needed." (Council of Basel)
"If the cardinals ever notice that a pope is negligent
or remiss or acting in a way unbefitting his state, though may this
never happen, with filial reverence and charity they shall beg him as
their father to live up to his pastoral office, his good name and his
duty. First, let one or some of them warn him that if he does not desist
they will delate him to the next general council, and if he does not
amend they shall all do this as a college together with some notable
prelates. For the well-being of the supreme pontiff and the common good
they should not fear the hostility of the supreme pontiff himself or
anything else, provided they act with reverence and charity. Much more
so, if it comes to the pope's notice that some cardinal is acting
wrongly and reprehensibly, he should correct him, always with paternal
charity and according to evangelical teaching. Thus, acting in charity
towards each other, one to another, a father to his sons and sons to
their father, let them direct the church with exemplary and salutary
government." (Council of Basel)
"When
cardinals receive the insignia of their dignity, whose meaning is
readiness to shed their blood if necessary for the good of the church,
they shall take the following oath in a public consistory, if they are
in the curia, or publicly in the hands of some bishop commissioned for
this purpose by an apostolic letter containing the oath, if they are not
in the curia. 'I, N., recently chosen as a cardinal of the holy Roman
church, from this hour henceforward will be faithful to blessed Peter,
to the universal and Roman church and to the supreme pontiff and his
canonically elected successors. I will labor faithfully for the defense of the
Catholic faith,
the eradication of heresies errors and schisms, the reform of morals and
the peace of the Christian people. I will not consent to alienations of property or goods of the
Roman church or of other churches or of any benefices, except in cases
allowed by law, and I will strive to the best of my ability for the
restoration of those alienated from the Roman church. I will give
neither advice nor my signature to the supreme pontiff except for what
is according to God and my conscience. I will faithfully carry out
whatever I am commissioned to do by the apostolic see. I will maintain
divine worship in the church of my title and will preserve its goods: so
help me God.'" (Council of Basel)
"Let the cardinals both publicly and privately
treat with kindness and respect prelates and all others, especially
distinguished persons who come to the Roman curia, and let them present
their business to the supreme pontiff freely and graciously. Since the
cardinals assist him who is the common father of all, it is very
unseemly for them to become accepters of persons or advocates. Hence
this holy synod forbids them to exercise any favoritism as collateral
judges, even if they take their origin from a favored region. Neither
should they be biased protectors or defenders of princes or communities
or others against anyone, whether paid or unpaid, but putting aside all
sentiment let them assist the pope in pacifying quarrels with harmony
and justice. The holy synod urges and commends them to promote the just
business of princes and anybody else, especially religious and the poor,
without charge and without seeking reward, as an act of charity. Let
them preserve with readiness and kindness the gravity and modesty that
befits their dignity. Let them maintain towards all people godliness
which, according to the Apostle, is profitable in every way. Although
they should not neglect their kinsfolk, especially if they are deserving
and poor, they should not load them with a mass of goods and benefices
to the scandal of others. Let them beware of pouring out on flesh and
blood, beyond the bounds of necessity, goods coming from the churches.
If the pontiff notices such strutting among the great, he should
reprimand and object, as is fitting, and he will be blameworthy if he
fails to correct, in keeping with his office, whatever needs
correction." (Council of Basel)
"Since the cardinals of the holy Roman church
assist the supreme pontiff in directing the Christian commonweal, it is
essential that such persons be appointed as may be, like their name,
real hinges on which the doors of the universal church move and are
upheld. The sacred synod therefore decrees that henceforth their number
shall be so adjusted that it is not a burden to the church which now,
owing to the malice of the times, is afflicted by many serious
inconveniences or cheapened by being too large. They should be chosen
from all the regions of Christianity, as far as this is convenient and
possible, so that information on new things in the church may be more
easily available for mature consideration. They should not exceed
twenty-four in number, including the present cardinals. Not more than a
third of them at any given time shall be from one nation, not more than
one from any city or diocese. None shall be chosen from that nation
which now has more than a third of them, until its share has been
reduced to a third. They should be men outstanding in knowledge, good
conduct and practical experience, at least thirty years old, and
masters, doctors or licentiates who have been examined in divine or
human law. At least a third or a quarter of them should be masters or
licentiates in holy scripture. A very few of them may be sons, brothers
or nephews of kings or great princes; for them an appropriate education
will suffice, on account of their experience and maturity of behavior.
Nephews of the Roman pontiff, related to him through his brother or
sister, or of any living cardinal shall not be made cardinals; nor shall
[the illegitimate or those with physical defects] or those stained
by a reputation of crime or infamy... The election of cardinals shall
not be made by oral votes alone, rather only those shall be chosen who,
after a genuine and publicized ballot, obtain the collegial agreement,
signed with their own hands, of the majority of the cardinals."
(Council of Basel) "Can. 334 The Bishops are available to the Roman
Pontiff in the exercise of his office, to cooperate with him in various
ways, among which is the synod of Bishops. Cardinals also assist him, as
do other persons and, according to the needs of the time, various
institutes; all these persons and institutes fulfill their offices in his
name and by his authority, for the good of all the Churches, in
accordance with the norms determined by law." (1983 Code of Canon
Law)
"Can. 349 The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
constitute a special College, whose prerogative it is to elect the Roman
Pontiff in accordance with the norms of a special law. The Cardinals are
also available to the Roman Pontiff, either acting collegially, when
they are summoned together to deal with questions of major importance,
or acting individually, that is, in the offices which they hold in
assisting the Roman Pontiff especially in the daily care of the
universal Church." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Can. 350 §1 The College of Cardinals is divided
into three orders: the episcopal order, to which belong those Cardinals
to whom the Roman Pontiff assigns the title of a suburbicarian Church,
and eastern-rite Patriarchs who are made members of the College of
Cardinals; the presbyteral order, and the diaconal order. §2 Cardinal
priests and Cardinal deacons are each assigned a title or a deaconry in
Rome by the Roman Pontiff. §3 Eastern Patriarchs within the College of
Cardinals have their patriarchal see as a title. §4 The Cardinal Dean
holds as his title the Diocese of Ostia together with the other church
he already has as a title. §5 By a choice made in Consistory and
approved by the Supreme Pontiff, Cardinal priests may transfer to
another title; Cardinal deacons may transfer to another deaconry and, if
they have been a full ten years in the diaconal order, to the
presbyteral order.§6 A Cardinal who by choice transfers from the
diaconal to the presbyteral order, takes precedence over all Cardinal
priests who were promoted to the Cardinalate after him." (1983 Code
of Canon Law)
"Can.
351 §1 Those to be promoted Cardinals are men freely selected by the
Roman Pontiff, who are at least in the order of priesthood and are truly
outstanding in doctrine, virtue, piety and prudence in practical
matters; those who are not already Bishops must receive episcopal
consecration. §2 Cardinals are created by decree of the Roman Pontiff,
which in fact is published in the presence of the College of Cardinals.
From the moment of publication, they are bound by the obligations and
they enjoy the rights defined in the law. §3 A person promoted to the
dignity of Cardinal, whose creation the Roman Pontiff announces, but
whose name he reserves in petto, is not at that time bound by the
obligations nor does he enjoy the rights of a Cardinal. When his name is
published by the Roman Pontiff, however, he is bound by these
obligations and enjoys these rights, but his right of precedence dates
from the day of the reservation in petto." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Can. 352 §1 The dean presides offer the college
of cardinals; if he is impeded, the assistant dean takes his place.
Neither the dean nor the assistant dean possesses any power of
governance over the other cardinals but is considered as first among
equals. §2 When the office of dean is vacant, the cardinals who possess
title to a suburbicarian church and they alone are to elect one from
their own group who is to act as dean of the college; the assistant
dean, if he is present, or else the oldest among them, presides at this
election. They are to submit his name to the Roman Pontiff, to whom it
belongs to approve the person elected. §3 The assistant dean is elected
in the same manner as that described in §2, with the dean himself
presiding. It belongs to the Roman Pontiff to approve also the election
of the sub-dean. §4 If the dean and assistant dean do not have a
domicile in Rome, they are to acquire one there." (1983 Code of
Canon Law)
"Can.
353 §1 Cardinals assist the Supreme Pastor of the Church in collegial
fashion particularly in Consistories, in which they are gathered by
order of the Roman Pontiff and under his presidency. Consistories are
either ordinary or extraordinary. §2 In an ordinary Consistory all
Cardinals, or at least those who are in Rome, are summoned for
consultation on certain grave matters of more frequent occurrence, or
for the performance of especially solemn acts. §3 All Cardinals are
summoned to an extraordinary Consistory, which takes place when the
special needs of the Church and more serious matters suggest it. §4
Only an ordinary Consistory in which certain solemnities are celebrated,
can be public, that is when, in addition to the Cardinals, Prelates,
representatives of civil states and other invited persons are
admitted." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Can. 354 The cardinals who preside over
dicasteries and other permanent institutes of the Roman Curia and
Vatican City and who have completed the seventy-fifth year of age are
requested to offer their resignation from office to the Roman Pontiff
who will see to the matter after considering the circumstances."
(1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Can. 355 §1 It belongs to the Cardinal Dean to
ordain the elected Roman Pontiff a Bishop, if he is not already
ordained. If the Dean is prevented from doing so, the same right belongs
to the sub-Dean or, if he is prevented, to the senior Cardinal of the
episcopal order. §2 The senior Cardinal Deacon announces the name of
the newly elected Supreme Pontiff to the people. Acting in place of the
Roman Pontiff, he also confers the pallium on metropolitan Bishops or
gives the pallium to their proxies." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Can. 356 Cardinals are obliged to cooperate
assiduously with the Roman Pontiff; therefore, cardinals who exercise
any office in the curia and who are not diocesan bishops are obliged to
reside in Rome. Cardinals who have the care of some diocese as the
diocesan bishop are to go to Rome whenever summoned by the Roman
Pontiff." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Can. 357 §1 When a Cardinal has taken
possession of a suburbicarian Church or of a titular Church in Rome, he
is to further the good of the diocese or church by counsel and
patronage. However, he has no power of governance over it, and he should
not for any reason interfere in matters concerning the administration of
its goods, or its discipline, or the service of the church. §2
Cardinals living outside Rome and outside their own diocese, are exempt
in what concerns their person from the power of governance of the Bishop
of the diocese in which they are residing." (1983 Code of Canon
Law)
"Can. 358 A cardinal to whom the Roman Pontiff
entrusts the function of representing him in some solemn celebration or
among some group of persons as a legates a latere, that is, as his alter
ego, as well as one to whom the Roman Pontiff entrusts the fulfillment
of a certain pastoral function as his special envoy (missus specialis)
has competence only offer those things which the Roman Pontiff commits
to him." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
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of a Pope | Vatican
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