cardinals

The Latest

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Raymond Burke on Dec. 29, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Burke amid salary, apartment controversy

Dec 29, 2023

By Daniel Payne

In a press release, the Holy See Press Office briefly mentioned that the pope had met with Cardinal Raymond Burke... Read more

Pope Francis leads the prayer at the general congregation of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican on Oct. 6, 2023.

The cardinals at the Synod on Synodality: A prelude for the next conclave?

Oct 11, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

While not exactly a dress rehearsal for an upcoming conclave, the Synod on Synodality provides a setting for numerous cardinals... Read more

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba and his episcopal coat of arms (top left); Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong and his episcopal coat of arms (top right); Bishop Américo Aguiar of Setúbal, Portugal, and his coat of arms (bottom left); Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town and his coat of arms.

Catholic Church’s new cardinals explain why they chose their spiritual mottos

Sep 28, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Episcopal mottos are selected when a Catholic priest is consecrated as a bishop and are traditionally found at the base... Read more

Pope Francis creates new cardinals at a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Archbishop Fernández

Jul 9, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has created 121 cardinals from 66 countries at eight consistories. Read more

Bishop Lucas Van Looy, S.D.B., pictured at a Vatican press conference on the family synod, Oct. 23, 2015.

Pope Francis accepts Belgian bishop’s request not to be made a cardinal

Jun 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

Bishop Lucas Van Looy was due to receive the red hat on Aug. 27. Read more

An ordinary public consistory at the Vatican on Oct. 20, 2014.

Why this August’s extraordinary consistory of cardinals is significant

Jun 6, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The new Vatican constitution comes into force on June 5. Read more

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán

Mexican Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán has died at the age of 89

Apr 20, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Mexican cardinal is remembered as a strong voice of opposition to abortion and euthanasia. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for recently deceased cardinals and bishops, Nov. 4, 2021.

Pope Francis offers Mass for souls of 208 deceased bishops, cardinals

Nov 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

‘Some of them have died as a result of COVID-19,’ the pope noted. Read more

Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo died Aug. 10 in Rome at the age of 94.

Cardinal Eduardo Martínez Somalo, retired camerlengo, dies at 94

Aug 10, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Spanish cardinal managed the administration of the Holy See as camerlengo between the death of St. Pope John Paul... Read more

A view of St. Peter's Basilica from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

Australian Cardinal Edward Cassidy, Vatican official and diplomat, dies at 96

Apr 10, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The retired cardinal had been a Vatican nuncio and Holy See official for over 30 years. Read more

Cardinals gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for a consistory, Nov. 4, 2012.

Pope Francis trims cardinals’ salaries by 10% to save money

Mar 24, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has issued a letter cutting the salaries of some Vatican employees as a way to contain costs after... Read more

Cardinals gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for a consistory, Nov. 4, 2012.

What changes may be coming to the College of Cardinals in 2021?

Feb 25, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

When Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako turns 80 on Feb. 27, the cardinals eligible to vote in a conclave will drop... Read more

The future Cardinal Adrianus Simonis, pictured Jan. 17, 1981.

Pope Francis sends condolences after death of Cardinal Simonis

Sep 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis offered his condolences Thursday after Dutch Cardinal Adrianus Simonis died at the age of 88.  Read more

Pope Francis gives his annual Christmas greeting to the Roman Curia Dec. 21, 2019.

Church reform takes personal conversion, Pope Francis tells Roman Curia

Dec 21, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

To carry out the continuing reform of the Church requires a willingness to change and a commitment to personal conversion,... Read more

Pope Francis at Mass for the repose of the souls of deceased bishops Nov. 4, 2019.

Remember the final judgement, Pope Francis says at Mass for recently deceased bishops

Nov 4, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis urged Catholics to meditation on the final judgement at a Mass offered Monday for the souls of cardinals... Read more

Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius. Photo: Juliux / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

New cardinal says he relied on Eucharist, Mary during time in Soviet prison camp

Oct 7, 2019

One of the newest cardinals of the Church says he drew strength from the Mass and the Blessed Virgin during... Read more

Pope Francis places the red biretta on Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis urges new cardinals to imitate Christ’s compassionate heart

Oct 5, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis created 13 new cardinals Saturday, encouraging each of them to ask for the grace to have a compassionate... Read more

CNA file photo.

Italian Cardinal Paolo Sardi dies at age 84

Jul 14, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Paolo Sardi, who served under five popes, died Saturday at Gemelli Hospital in Rome after a short illness.  Read more

Pope Francis offers a Mass for the repose of the souls of cardinals and bishops who died this year in St. Peter's Basilica Nov. 3.

Pope Francis offers Mass for souls of 163 deceased cardinals, bishops

Nov 3, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Nine cardinals and 154 bishops have died since November 2017, including Cardinal Bernard Law, the former archbishop of Boston, and... Read more

Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran.

Cardinal Tauran, leader in Catholic-Muslim dialogue, dies at 75

Jul 6, 2018

By Elise Harris

After a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, a seasoned Vatican diplomat who announced Pope Francis' election to... Read more