How to Become a Catholic Cardinal

Cardinals are appointed by the pope.

When the pope of the Catholic Church dies, it falls upon his cardinals to decide who will become the next pope to serve the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals also serve as an advisory board to a sitting pope. Cardinals, who lead a diocese, are ranked only behind the pontiff in the hierarchy of the church and one will become the future pope upon succession. Becoming a Catholic cardinal takes many steps, beginning with the priesthood.

Instructions

1. Become a priest. In order to eventually become a cardinal in the Catholic Church, you must first become a priest. Priests are at the bottom of the rank structure in the Catholic Church. To attain the priesthood, you must be a man. Priests must earn a college degree in theology or philosophy followed by a seminary study. Priests are then ordained by a bishop.

2. Get nominated by a team of local bishops to become a bishop. Priests who wish to become bishops must be chosen by a team of bishops who make a recommendation to the pope. While the pope can ordain any bishop he chooses, the typical structure includes this nomination protocol.

3. Attain the rank of Catholic cardinal by getting the attention of a sitting pope. Only the pope can choose cardinals to serve in his cabinet, and these cardinals serve him as a panel of advisers, responsible for individual concerns of the Catholic Church.

References

• Bible.ca: The Organization of the Roman Catholic Church
• Dummies: The Role of Cardinals in the Catholic Church
• New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia