An ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. Until the Middle Ages the title of cardinal was granted to the prominent clergy of important churches, e.g., Constantinople, Milan, Naples. Since the days of Pope Saint Pius V (1566-1572), there are in the Roman Church no more than six cardinal-bishops, 50 cardinal-priests, and 14 cardinal-deacons. At the present day the cardinals constitute the senate of the Roman pontiff, advising and assisting the pope in the government of the Church. The pope has the sole right to create cardinals freely, and is not bound by any ruling or interference. Cardinals residing in Rome are called Cardinals of the Court. The names of the newly created cardinals are usually published at a papal consistory. A priest who has been created a cardinal for some time, and whose name has not been published by the pope, is called a cardinal in petto (in the bosom). The privileges of cardinals are as follows: precedence overall other ecclesiastical prelates, including primates and patriarchs; to wear the red, and cardinalitial robes and hat; almost all the privileges of bishops; to hear confessions, preach, celebrate Mass anywhere, bless religious articles, erect Stations of the Cross; a daily privileged altar, etc.; to vote at aecumenical councils; and to elect the Roman pontiff.

The chapter of the Protestant Cathedral of Saint Paul, London, has a senior and junior "cardinal," selected from among the minor canons. Their duties according to the statutes of the cathedral of 1396 are "continually to visit the sick and minister unto them as often as shall be needful"; the poet Richard Harris Barham ("Thomas Ingoldsby") held one of these offices.

Bibliography Information
Entry for 'Cardinal'. 1910 New Catholic Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ncd/c/cardinal.html. 1910.

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1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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