Cardinal

A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. 

College of Cardinals

Cardinals are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. 

Pope Sixtus V limited the number of cardinals to 70, composed of six cardinal bishops, 50 cardinal priests, and 14 cardinal deacons. However, Pope John XXIII began to exceed the overall limit of 70, and this continued under his successors. At the start of 1971, Pope Paul VI set an age limit of eighty years for electors, who were to number no more than 120, but set no limit to the number of cardinals as a whole, including those over eighty. 

Since Popes can dispense from church laws, they have sometimes brought the number of cardinals under the age of 80 to more than 120, perhaps calculating that the number would be sufficiently reduced by the time the need for a conclave would arise. In fact, since the 120 limit was enacted, no conclave has been held with a full 120 entitled to participate. Pope Paul VI also increased the number of cardinal bishops by giving that rank to patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches who are made cardinals.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals and the Sub-Dean are the president and vice-president of the college. Both are elected by and from the cardinals holding suburbicarian dioceses, but the election requires Papal confirmation. Except for presiding, the dean has no power of governance over the cardinals, instead acting as primus inter pares (first among equals).

The Secretary of State, the prefects of the Congregations of the Roman Curia, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the Vicar General of Rome, and the Patriarchs of Venice and Lisbon, are usually Cardinals, with few, usually temporary, exceptions. 

The Fundamental Law of Vatican City State requires that appointees to the state's legislative body, the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, be cardinals.

Order of precedence in the College is based on seniority by date of appointment (except for the Cardinal Bishops of the 7 suburbicarian sees of Rome). The highest precedence goes to the Dean of the College of Cardinals. 

Since 1150, the Dean is a position attached to the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, one of the seven suburbicarian sees of Rome. A new Dean would therefore add the see of Ostia to the suburbicarian see he already has.

Duties: Advise the Pope

A function of the college is to advise the Pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. 

The duties of the cardinals also include attending the meetings of the College and making themselves available individually or in groups to the pope if he requests their counsel. Most cardinals have additional duties, such as leading a diocese or archdiocese or running a department of the Roman Curia.

Duties: To Elect the Pope

A cardinal's other main function is electing the pope whenever, by death or resignation, the see becomes vacant. 

The College of Cardinals convenes on the death or resignation of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor. 

The right to enter the conclave of cardinals who elect the pope is now limited to those who have not reached the age of 80 years by the day of the pope's death or resignation.

Powers of the College

The college has no ruling power except during the sede vacante (papal vacancy) period, and even then its powers are extremely limited by the terms of the current law, which is laid down in the Apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis and the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State.

During the sede vacante, the period between a pope's death or resignation and the election of his successor, the day-to-day governance of the Church as a whole is in the hands of the College of Cardinals. 

Origins

The Church cites Acts of the Apostles 6 as the formation of the Sacred College of Cardinals. Specifically, the seven assistants, Stephen, Philip, Nicanor, Timon, Nicholas, Parmenas, and Prochorus, selected by the Apostles to relieve them of the more mundane tasks of the Church so that they might concentrate more on prayer, contemplation, and preaching. As early as the third century, these assistants were defined as critical supporters of the papacy, and by the fourth century, the title of Cardinal was applied to these consultors of the Pope.

The word cardinal itself is derived from the Latin Carda, translated as "hinge". The cardinals were believed to facilitate a relationship between the theological and governmental roles of the hierarchy of the Church as a sort of pivot; on them hung the relationship between Christ and His Church on Earth, headed by the pope. This definition of helper has not changed over the years, and popes have not ceased to depend on the College for advice on doctrine and government.

Towards the end of the 600s, the title of Cardinal had become synonymous with an honor, and was no longer reserved to men who served the pope as special assistants. Sts. Augustine and Ambrose applied the term to truths of life and Christian virtues respectively. In AD 845 the Council of Meaux "required Bishops to establish Cardinal titles or parishes in their towns and outlining districts."[8] At the same time, the popes began referring to the cardinal priests of Rome to serves as legates and delegates within Rome at ceremonies, synods, councils, etc., as well as abroad on diplomatic missions and councils. Those who were assigned to the latter roles were given the titles of Legatus a latere (Cardinal Legate) and Missus Specialis (Special Missions).

Historically, cardinals were the clergy of the city of Rome, serving the Bishop of Rome as the Pope, who had clerical duties in parishes of the city. The College has its origins in the events surrounding the crowning of Henry IV as King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor at the age of six, after the unexpected death of Henry III in 1056. 

Until 1059, secular authorities had significant influence over who was to be appointed Pope. The Holy Roman Emperors had a hand in choosing the pontiff. 

The aims and views of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Church did not always coincide. In 1059, in an attempt gain political independence, members of what was to become known as the Gregorian Reform took advantage of the new King and his lack of power, declared that the election of the Pope was an affair only for the Church. In 1059, the Pope declared the right of election was, as stated in the bull In nomine Domini, reserved to cardinals, leaving the emperor only with a vague right of approbation (rubber stamping approval).

From the beginning of the 12th century, the College of Cardinals started to meet as such, when the cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons ceased acting as separate groups. The practice of appointing ecclesiastics from outside Rome as cardinals began, with each of them being assigned a church in Rome as his titular church, or being linked with one of the suburbicarian dioceses, while still being incardinated in a diocese other than that of Rome.

The influence of temporal rulers, however, notably the French kings, largely reemerged via cardinals of certain nationalities or politically significant movements. Traditions have even developed entitling certain monarchs (e.g., of Austria, Spain, and Portugal) to nominate one of their trusted clerical subjects to be created cardinal, a so-called crown-cardinal.

In early modern times, cardinals often had important roles in secular affairs. In some cases, they took on powerful positions in government. An example of this was found in Henry VIII's England where his chief minister was Cardinal Wolsey. An even more prominent example is that of Cardinal Richelieu, whose power was so great that he was for many years the real ruler of France. Richelieu was so successful that his successor, Jules Mazarin, was also a cardinal. Guillaume Dubois and André-Hercule de Fleury complete the list of the "four great" cardinals to have ruled France.

In Portugal, due to a succession crisis, one cardinal, Henry, King of Portugal, was crowned, thus becoming the only cardinal-king in the world.

Orders of Cardinals

During the pontificate of Stephen V (AD 816-17), the three classes of the College that are present today began to form. Stephen decreed that all cardinal-bishops were bound to say Mass on rotation at the high altar at St. Peter's Basilica, one per Sunday. The first class to form was that of the cardinal-deacons, direct theological descendants of the original seven ordained in Acts 6, followed by the cardinal-priests, and finally, the cardinal-bishops.

Within the College of Cardinals, there are three categories, the highest-ranked Cardinal Bishops, then Cardinal Priests, and finally Cardinal Deacons. Within each category the Cardinals are ranked by seniority of appointment.

Cardinal Bishop 

Cardinal Bishops (Cardinals of the Episcopal Order) are among the most senior prelates of the Catholic Church. Though in modern times most Cardinals are also Bishops, the term "Cardinal Bishop" only refers to the Cardinals that are titular Bishops of one of the "suburbicarian" sees.

In early times, the privilege of papal election was not reserved to the Cardinals, and for centuries the Pope was customarily a Roman priest and never a Bishop from elsewhere. To preserve apostolic succession the rite of consecrating the Pope as a Bishop had to be performed by someone who was already a Bishop. The rule remains that, if the person elected Pope is not yet a Bishop, he is consecrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals, the primus inter pares of the College of Cardinals, is elected by the Cardinal Bishops holding suburbicarian sees from among their own number. An election, however must be approved by the Pope. Formerly the position of Dean belonged to the longest-serving of the Cardinal Bishops, all six of whom then headed a suburbicarian see. 

Though these sees are now seven (Ostia and Velletri having been separated in 1914), there are only six Cardinal Bishops, since the Dean always adds the title of Ostia to his original suburbicarian diocese.

 With the increasing involvement of the Cardinal Bishops in the curia, their dioceses (except Ostia, which is administered by the Holy See) are administered by diocesan Bishops.

The Seven Suburbicarian Sees are:

• Ostia (See held by the Dean)
• Albano
• Porto-Santa Rufina
• Sabina-Poggio Mirteto
• Velletri-Segni
• Frascati
• Palestrina

For a period ending in the mid-20th century, long-serving Cardinal priests were entitled to fill vacancies that arose among the Cardinal Bishops, just as Cardinal Deacons of ten years' standing are still entitled to become Cardinal Priests. Since then, Cardinals have been advanced to Cardinal Bishop exclusively by papal appointment.

In 1965, Pope Paul VI decreed in his motu proprio Ad Purpuratorum Patrum that patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches who were named Cardinals would also be part of the episcopal order, ranked after the six Cardinal Bishops of the suburbicarian sees (who had been relieved of direct responsibilities for those sees by Pope John XXIII three years earlier). Not holding a suburbicarian see, they cannot elect the Dean nor become Dean. 

The Latin Rite Patriarchs of Lisbon and Venice, while in practice always made Cardinals at the consistory after they take possession of their sees, are made Cardinal Priests, not Cardinal Bishops. Although the incumbents of such prestigious sees are consistently created Cardinal, no see carries an actual right to the cardinalate.

Cardinal Priest

Cardinal priests are the most numerous of the three orders of cardinals in the Catholic Church, ranking above the cardinal deacons and below the cardinal bishops. Those who are named cardinal priests today are generally bishops of important dioceses throughout the world, though some hold Curial positions.

In modern times, the name "cardinal priest" is interpreted as meaning a cardinal who is of the order of priests. Originally, however, this referred to certain key priests of important churches of the Diocese of Rome, who were recognized as the cardinal priests, the important priests chosen by the pope to advise him in his duties as Bishop of Rome. 

Every cardinal priest has a titular church in Rome, though they may be bishops or archbishops elsewhere, just as cardinal bishops are given one of the suburbicarian dioceses around Rome. 

Pope Paul VI abolished all administrative rights cardinals had with regard to their titular churches, though the cardinal's name and coat of arms are still posted in the church, and they are expected to preach there if convenient when they are in Rome.

In 1587, Pope Sixtus V sought to fix the maximum size of the College at 70, including 50 cardinal priests. This limit was respected until 1958, and the list of titular churches modified only on rare occasions, generally when a building fell into disrepair. When Pope John XXIII abolished the limit, he began to add new churches to the list, which Popes Paul VI and John Paul II continued to do. 

Today there are close to 150 titular churches, out of over 300 churches in Rome.

The cardinal who is the longest-serving member of the order of cardinal priests is titled cardinal protopriest. He had certain ceremonial duties in the conclave that have effectively ceased because he would generally have already reached age 80, at which cardinals are barred from the conclave. 

Cardinal Deacon

The cardinal deacons are the lowest-ranking cardinals. Cardinals elevated to the diaconal order are either officials of the Roman Curia or priests elevated after their 80th birthday. Bishops with diocesan responsibilities, however, are created cardinal priests.

Cardinal deacons derive originally from the seven deacons in the Papal Household and the seven deacons who supervised the Church's works in the districts of Rome during the early Middle Ages, when church administration was effectively the government of Rome and provided all social services. Cardinal deacons are given title to one of these deaconries.

Cardinals elevated to the diaconal order are mainly officials of the Roman Curia holding various posts in the church administration. Their number and influence has varied through the years. While historically predominantly Italian the group has become much more internationally diverse in later years.

As of 2005, there were over 50 churches recognized as cardinalatial deaconries, though there were only 30 cardinals of the order of deacons. Cardinal deacons have long enjoyed the right to "opt for the order of cardinal priests" (optazione) after they have been cardinal deacons for 10 years. They may on such elevation take a vacant "title" (a church allotted to a cardinal priest as the church in Rome with which he is associated) or their diaconal church may be temporarily elevated to a cardinal priest's "title" for that occasion. 

When elevated to cardinal priests, they take their precedence according to the day they were first made cardinal deacons (thus ranking above cardinal priests who were elevated to the college after them, regardless of order).

When not celebrating Mass but still serving a liturgical function, such as the semiannual Urbi et Orbi papal blessing, some Papal Masses and some events at Ecumenical Councils, cardinal deacons can be recognized by the dalmatics they would don with the simple white mitre (so called mitra simplex).

Cardinal protodeacon

The Cardinal protodeacon is the senior cardinal deacon in order of appointment to the College of Cardinals. He has the privilege of announcing a new pope's election and name (once he has been ordained to the Episcopate) from the central balcony at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City State. 

In the past, during papal coronations, the Proto-Deacon also had the honor of bestowing the pallium on the new pope and crowning him with the papal tiara. However, in 1978 Pope John Paul I chose not to be crowned and opted for a simpler papal inauguration ceremony, and his three successors followed that example. As a result, the Cardinal protodeacon's privilege of crowning a new pope has effectively ceased although it could be revived if a future Pope were to restore a coronation ceremony. However, the Proto-Deacon still has the privilege of bestowing the pallium on a new pope at his papal inauguration. “Acting in the place of the Roman Pontiff, he also confers the pallium upon metropolitan bishops or gives the pallium to their proxies.”

Title & Style

Since 1630, cardinals have taken the style Eminence and addressed “Your Eminence”. 

In accordance with tradition, they sign by placing the title "Cardinal" (abbreviated Card.) after their personal name and before their surname as, for instance, "John Card(inal) Doe" or, in Latin, "Ioannes Card(inalis) Cognomen". 

Several influential stylebooks, both secular and religious, however, indicate that the correct form for referring to a cardinal in English is as "Cardinal <Name> <Surname>". This style is also generally followed on the websites of the Holy See and episcopal conferences.

Using the formula at the announcement of the election of the Pope, a Cardinal is formally referred to as Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum (first name) Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem (last name), ..." which translates to “The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord, Lord (first name) Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church (last name), ..."

The Pope addresses Cardinals as “Our Venerable Brother”

A Cardinal is introduced as “His Eminence” and addressed with a simple title of “Lord Cardinal” or “Your Eminence or “Cardinal (Last Name)”.

 Cardinals are qualified by the adjectivial phrase “Most Reverend”

In a formal introduction, a Cardinal should be introduced as “His Eminence, (First Name) Cardinal (Last Name).”  

On paper, as “His Eminence, (First Name) Cardinal (Last Name), Archbishop of (Location) or his title of office.” 

Protocol

You should stand when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit) and again when he leaves it. Remove your hat in his presence, and you may kiss the sacred ring during both the greeting and the closing. If he is your own Bishop, you may kneel when kissing the ring (though bowing at the waist is also acceptable). However, do not do either if the Pope is present.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of a cardinal is indicated by a red galero (wide-brimmed hat) with 15 tassels on each side (the motto and escutcheon are proper to the individual cardinal). The double horizontal bar cross signifies the rank of an archbishop, cardinal or patriarch. (Bishops may only use a single bar cross)

Privileges of Cardinals

Cardinals have in canon law a "privilege of forum" (i.e., exemption from being judged by ecclesiastical tribunals of ordinary rank). Only the pope is competent to judge them in matters subject to ecclesiastical jurisdiction (cases that refer to matters that are spiritual or linked with the spiritual, or with regard to infringement of ecclesiastical laws and whatever contains an element of sin, where culpability must be determined and the appropriate ecclesiastical penalty imposed). 

This does not exempt them from being judged for alleged violations of civil law. The pope either decides the case himself or delegates the decision to another tribunal, usually one of the tribunals or congregations of the Roman Curia. Absent such delegation, other ecclesiastical courts, even the Roman Rota, are incompetent to judge a case against a cardinal.

The pope alone may judge them in formal process and they may choose the place where they tetstify in such processes.

Cardinals living outside of Rome and outside their own diocese are personally exempt from the jurisdiction of local bishop in which they are residing. (c.357)

Cardinals have unrestricted faculty to hear confessions everywhere in the world (c.967)

Cardinals may be buried in their church (c.1242)

Vatican citizenship and passport if residing in the Vatican City or at Rome. They enjoy this right by nature of their primary duty to assist the Pope and therefore obliged to stay in Rome. Cardinals who retain their dioceses when appointed a cardinal are not obligated to reside at Rome. The pope and curial cardinals are granted Vatican citizenship by virtue of their office. 

As princes of the Church, cardinals enjoy diplomatic privileges.

A Cardinal may be deputed by the Roman Pontiff to represent him in some solemn celebration or assembly of persons as a Legatus a latere, that is, as his alter ego; or he may, as a special emissary, be entrusted with a particular pastoral task. A Cardinal thus nominated is entitled to deal only with those affairs which have been entrusted to him by the Roman Pontiff himself.

They enjoy all the privileges of bishops. Like the bishops, they have the right to a domestic chapel, and may everywhere use portable altars.

They may choose a confessor in any diocese. The confessor must, however, have the approbation of his own bishop. 

In their titular churches the cardinals exercise a certain quasi-episcopal jurisdiction, i.e. they may there use the episcopal ornaments (pontificalia), give the episcopal blessing, and promulgate indulgences of 200 days (Congreg. Indulg., 28 Aug., 1903). They may confer tonsure and minor orders on the members of their ecclesiastical family, also on persons attached to their titular churches. 

Cardinals may place their coats-of-arms on the exterior of the churches of their Title or Diaconate. In the interior, near the main door, the name of the titular Cardinal may be placed in a suitable frame which will harmonise with the style of the sacred building.

Every cardinal resident in Rome has a right to a revenue of 4,000 scudi (about $4,000). This is known as his piatto cardinalicio, or ordinary means of support. If the ordinary revenues assigned him do not produce as much, the papal treasury makes up the deficit.

The honorary rights of the cardinals are also numerous. They come immediately after the pope, and precede all other ecclesiastical dignitaries. As Roman princes they follow immediately the reigning sovereign, and rank with the prince of reigning houses. Hence, only cardinals of reigning houses retain their inherited titles of nobility and their family arms, but without the crown and with the cardinal's hat and the fifteen tassels. 

Vestments

Choir Dress

• Scarlet wool choir cassock trimmed in scarlet silk.

• Scarlet silk rabat (backless waistcoat attached to clergy collar)

• Scarlet stockings, and black shoes without buckles.

• Scarlet watered-silk sash with fringes

• Rochet

• Pectoral cross suspended from a cord of scarlet silk entwined with gold

• Scarlet wool mozzetta trimmed in scarlet silk, or on very solemn feasts scarlet watered-silk cappa magna with scarlet silk cape.

• Scarlet watered-silk skullcap (with scarlet lining)

•Scarlet watered-silk biretta without tuft (with scarlet lining)

• Ring

Pian Dress

• Black wool cassock or simar (cassock with pellegrina) trimmed in scarlet silk

• Scarlet silk rabat, scarlet or black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Scarlet watered-silk sash with fringes

• Pectoral cross suspended from a chain

• Scarlet watered-silk ferraiolone worn only on more solemn occasions and always optional

• Scarlet watered-silk skullcap (with scarlet lining)

• Black plush hat (with scarlet lining) and optionally cords and tassels of scarlet silk entwined with gold, or less formally scarlet wool biretta without tuft (with scarlet lining) optional

• Ring

* Pian Dress : is used for "solemn occasions outside liturgical celebrations," which has colloquially been called Pian dress (Italian abito piano) because Bl. Pope Pius IX extended its use in 1870 for papal audiences and other public solemn occasions. 

It is used on very formal occasions, whenever gentlemen are asked to dress in white-tie or black-tie, but also on other formal occasions when Prelates are expected to appear publicly in their official capacity in circumstances and places which allow them to wear the formal dress of the Church. The wide range of circumstances when Pian dress is appropriate—including banquets, audiences, delegations, entertainments, official calls and even receptions, dinners, concerts, etc.  

Daily Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in black silk (no pellegrina)
• Scarlet silk rabat or black wool rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles
• Scarlet watered-silk sash with fringes optional
• Pectoral cross suspended from a chain
• Scarlet watered-silk skullcap (with scarlet lining) optional
• Any suitable hat, optional
• Ring

Galero

In previous times, at the consistory at which the pope named a new cardinal, he would bestow upon him a distinctive wide-brimmed hat called a galero. This custom has been discontinued, and the investiture now takes place with the scarlet biretta. In ecclesiastical heraldry, however, the scarlet galero is still displayed on the cardinal's coat of arms. Cardinals had the right to display the galero in their cathedral, and when a cardinal died, it would be suspended from the ceiling above his tomb. Some cardinals will still have a galero made, even though it is not officially part of their apparel.

Cardinal’s Ring

To symbolize their bond with the papacy, the pope gives each newly appointed cardinal a gold ring, which is traditionally kissed by Catholics when greeting a cardinal (as with a bishop's episcopal ring). The pope chooses the image on the outside: under Pope Benedict XVI it was a modern depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus, with Mary and John to each side. The ring includes the pope's coat of arms on the inside.

Rite of Creation

Church law says new cardinals must have been ordained at least to the priesthood and should be ordained bishops before entering the College of Cardinals.

The pope creates a cardinal in consistory. According to canon law, an ordinary consistory is called for consultation or for the celebration "of especially solemn acts," such as the creation of new cardinals or a vote approving the canonization of candidates for sainthood.

The ceremony

The ceremony begins when the cardinal-designates enter the hall in a specific order, non-alphabetical, previously determined, that establishes their order of precedence within the Sacred College for the remainder of their lifetimes, unless they are promoted to a higher class within the College.

Following a liturgical greeting, the Pope reads the formula of creation, and solemnly proclaims the names of the new cardinals. The first of these then addresses the Holy Father on behalf of everyone.This is followed by the Liturgy of the Word, the Pope's homily, the Profession of Faith and the taking of the oath by each cardinal. 

Each kneels before the pope to receive the cardinal's biretta, ring and to be assigned a title (cardinal priest) or deaconry (cardinal deacon).

The ceremony will be made up of three traditional elements:

1. The imposition of the red biretta, where the pope will say:
   "To the glory of Almighty God and the honour of the Apostolic See, receive the scarlet biretta as a sign of the dignity of the cardinalate, signifying your readiness to act with courage, even to the shedding of your blood, for the increase of the Christian faith, for the peace and tranquillity of the people of God and for the freedom and growth of Holy Roman Church."

2. The consignment of the ring, where the pope will say:
"Receive the ring from the hands of Peter and know that your love for the Church is strengthened by the love of the Prince of the Apostles."

3. The assignation of titular churches or deaconry, where the pope will say:
"To the honour of Almighty God and of Saints Peter and Paul, we entrust you with the title/deaconry of N. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Father hands over the Bull of Creation as cardinal, assigns the title or deaconry and exchanges a kiss of peace with the new members of the College of Cardinals. The cardinals also exchange such a sign among themselves. 

In the homily, the pope will also inform the new cardinals of their new broadened responsibilities and the many challenges that will face them in this extended service to the Church.

Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church

The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church (pl. Camerlenghi) (Italian for "Chamberlain", when referring to the Holy See; when referring to secular courts the word is "Ciambellano", pl. "Ciambellani") is an office of the Papal household.

The Camerlengo is the administrator of the property and revenues of the Holy See; his responsibilities formerly included the fiscal administration of the Patrimony of St. Peter. As regulated in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, the Camerlengo is always a Cardinal, though this was not the case prior to the 15th century. 

His heraldic arms are ornamented with two keys (one gold, one silver) in saltire surmounted by an ombrellino, a canopy or umbrella of alternating red and yellow stripes, which are also the arms of the Holy See during a period Sede Vacante. 

Chief among the present responsibilities of the Camerlengo is the formal determination of the death of the reigning Pope; the traditional procedure for this was to call his baptismal name (e.g. "Albine, dormisne?", i.e. "Albino, are you sleeping?")

After the Pope is declared dead, the Camerlengo takes possession of the Ring of the Fisherman and cuts it with shears in the presence of the Cardinals. This act symbolizes the end of the late Pope's authority, and prevents forging of documents which would appear to have the Pope's signature. The Camerlengo then notifies the appropriate officers of the Roman Curia and the Dean of the College of Cardinals. He is then involved with the preparations concerning the conclave and the Pope's funeral.

Until a successor Pope can be elected, the Camerlengo serves as acting head of State of the Vatican City. He is not, however, currently responsible for the government of the Catholic Church during a sede vacante. Universi Dominici Gregis placed that task in the hands of the College of Cardinals (although this power of government is extremely limited, being merely enough to allow Church institutions to continue to operate and perform some basic functions without making any definitive decisions or appointments that are normally reserved to other powers delegated by the Pope). The Camerlengo, though, does keep his office during the sede vacante, as opposed to the rest of the Roman Curia, and functions as the executive director of Vatican operations answerable to the College of Cardinals during an interregnum, primarily to carry out the College's decisions with regard to arranging the funeral of the late pope and the events leading up to the conclave. The only other person who keeps his office is the Major Penitentiary.