What Is A Cardinal In The Catholic Church?

What Is a Cardinal? The word “Cardinal” comes from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge” or “pivot”. Cardinals play a central and crucial role in the Church’s structure. They serve as advisors to the Pope. Cardinals are the primary electors of new Popes.
What Is a Cardinal? The word “Cardinal” comes from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge” or “pivot”. Cardinals play a central and crucial role in the Church’s structure. They serve as advisors to the Pope. Cardinals are the primary electors of new Popes.
What Is a Cardinal? The word “Cardinal” comes from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge” or “pivot”. Cardinals play a central and crucial role in the Church’s structure. They serve as advisors to the Pope. Cardinals are the primary electors of new Popes.

What Is a Cardinal?

Cardinals are the primary electors of new Popes.

The word “Cardinal” comes from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge” or “pivot”.

Cardinals play a central and crucial role in the Church’s structure.

They serve as advisors to the Pope.

What Is an Electoral Cardinal?

  • An Electoral Cardinal is under 80 years old and eligible to vote for the next Pope.
  • Out of 252 Cardinals, only 135 can vote in a papal conclave.

What Do Cardinals Wear?

  • Cardinals wear red, symbolizing their willingness to defend the faith even unto martyrdom.
  • Archbishops wear purple, representing humility and penitence.

How to Address a Cardinal:

  • Use the title “Eminence”.

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