How to be a cardinal: essential, complete guide with 7 key steps
How to be a cardinal
If you have ever wondered how to be a cardinal, you are really asking about one of the most visible forms of service in the Catholic Church. Cardinals are senior clergy who advise the Pope, lead major dioceses or Vatican departments, and elect a new Pope in a conclave. This guide explains the role, the usual pathway, and the spiritual and practical qualities associated with the office, so you can understand what it involves and what it does not.
While there is no application process for how to be a cardinal, there are recognisable steps and experiences that typically precede a cardinal’s appointment. We will demystify the terms, give realistic expectations, and outline the sort of formation and service that characterise those who are eventually called to the College of Cardinals.
How to be a cardinal: what the role involves
Before exploring how to be a cardinal in practice, it helps to know what cardinals do. The College of Cardinals is a body of senior Church leaders chosen by the Pope. Their primary duties include advising the Pope, contributing to global Church governance, and—if under the age of 80—serving as cardinal electors in a papal conclave.
Most cardinals are either archbishops of large dioceses (often called metropolitan sees) or senior officials in the Roman Curia (the Holy See’s administrative departments). The red colour associated with cardinals symbolises a willingness to serve Christ and the Church with courage, even to the shedding of blood. It is a sign of sacrificial leadership, not of personal status.
Basic prerequisites for how to be a cardinal
Canon law outlines the broad framework for who can be made a cardinal. If you are considering how to be a cardinal, these are the usual prerequisites:
- Ordination: Today, cardinals are chosen from among the clergy. They are typically bishops, although the Pope may dispense with episcopal ordination in particular cases and name a priest a cardinal.
- Appointment by the Pope: Only the Pope can create cardinals, usually announced in a ceremony known as a consistory.
- Service and reputation: Those created cardinals generally have a proven record of fidelity, pastoral care, leadership, theological understanding, and collaboration.
- Age considerations: Cardinals who are under 80 at the time a papacy ends are eligible to vote in a conclave. Men over 80 may still be named cardinals in recognition of service but do not vote.
Historically, there were times when laymen were named cardinals and then rapidly ordained, but the current practice is that candidates are at least priests, and ordinarily bishops, when created cardinals.
A realistic pathway: steps towards how to be a cardinal
There is no single formula for how to be a cardinal, but most cardinals have travelled a path of faithful service within the Church that includes seminary formation, priestly ministry, and often diocesan or curial leadership. Here is a typical progression.
1) Discern a priestly vocation
The first step in how to be a cardinal is actually the same first step for any priest: discernment. A genuine call to priesthood involves prayer, spiritual direction, and conversation with your parish priest or diocesan vocations director. The motivation should be service to God and His people, not ambition.
2) Enter seminary and complete formation
Priestly formation typically includes studies in philosophy and theology, human and spiritual formation, and pastoral experience. In the Latin Rite, candidates promise celibacy and obedience. Those looking towards long-term leadership often undertake advanced studies in theology, canon law, philosophy, or related disciplines.
3) Serve faithfully as a deacon and priest
After ordination—first as a deacon and then as a priest—most undertake parish assignments. Effective pastoral care, preaching, administration, and mentoring mark a priest’s development. Those interested in how to be a cardinal will find that fidelity in ordinary parish work is the foundation for any later responsibilities.
4) Take on wider responsibilities
Many future bishops (and thus potential cardinals) are asked to serve as diocesan chancellors, vicars general, seminary formators, tribunal judges, or directors of diocesan offices. Competence in administration, communication, and collaboration with laity and religious all matter.
5) Possible appointment as a bishop
The move from priest to bishop is not automatic, but if it happens, it’s usually after a strong record of pastoral and administrative leadership. Bishops shepherd a diocese, teach the faith, sanctify through the sacraments, and govern with charity and prudence. An appointment to a larger archdiocese or a role within a bishops’ conference can follow.
6) Significant leadership: archdiocesan or curial roles
Those who eventually become cardinals often lead major dioceses or work in the Roman Curia, heading key departments responsible for evangelisation, doctrine, charity, liturgy, or clergy. An archbishop of a historically prominent see or a prefect of a Vatican dicastery is a common profile.
7) Created cardinal by the Pope
In a consistory, the Pope announces new cardinals and assigns each a titular church in Rome, symbolising their bond with the Diocese of Rome. While the steps above are common, there are exceptions. Some priests have been made cardinals without being ordained bishops (for example, St John Henry Newman and Avery Dulles, SJ), because the Pope granted a dispensation. This flexibility is helpful to remember when considering how to be a cardinal: personal holiness and service carry more weight than a rigid template.
Understanding titles and ranks when learning how to be a cardinal
When considering how to be a cardinal, it helps to know the traditional internal ranks within the College of Cardinals:
- Cardinal Bishop: Historically connected to suburbicarian dioceses around Rome; today, a small number of senior cardinals, including Eastern Catholic patriarchs designated as cardinals, hold this rank.
- Cardinal Priest: Typically diocesan archbishops from around the world with significant pastoral responsibilities.
- Cardinal Deacon: Often senior officials of the Roman Curia; after ten years, a cardinal deacon may opt to become a cardinal priest.
All cardinals share in the responsibility of advising the Pope and serving the Church; the ranks reflect history and function, not differing levels of sacramental ordination.
Qualities the Church looks for when considering how to be a cardinal
The pathway to how to be a cardinal is as much about character as curriculum vitae. Common qualities include:
- Holiness and pastoral charity: Evident dedication to prayer, the sacraments, and compassionate shepherding of people.
- Doctrinal fidelity and sound judgement: Ability to teach the faith clearly and apply it wisely in complex situations.
- Leadership and collaboration: Experience guiding parishes, dioceses, or departments, and working well with clergy, religious, and laity.
- Cultural and linguistic competence: Many cardinals serve in international contexts; languages and intercultural sensitivity are invaluable.
- Administrative skill and transparency: Oversight of finances, safeguarding, and governance must be trustworthy and accountable.
- Communication: Comfort with media and public communication, always with humility and clarity.
Reality check: common myths about how to be a cardinal
Several myths persist about how to be a cardinal. Here are clarifications to keep expectations realistic:
- Myth: It’s a career ladder you can climb. Reality: The cardinalate is not a promotion in the secular sense; it is a call to greater service, discerned by the Pope.
- Myth: You can apply or lobby for it. Reality: There is no application. Campaigning is frowned upon; humility and service are the true currency.
- Myth: Only diocesan archbishops become cardinals. Reality: Many do, but priests and Eastern Catholic patriarchs can be created cardinals, and curial officials frequently are.
- Myth: Being a cardinal is mainly ceremonial. Reality: Beyond liturgy, cardinals carry significant responsibilities, including governance and the election of a Pope.
- Myth: It’s about power and prestige. Reality: The red signifies readiness for martyrdom; the role is fundamentally sacrificial leadership.
Practical preparation if you feel called to how to be a cardinal
If you feel drawn to a path that might include how to be a cardinal, focus not on the office itself but on the spiritual and pastoral foundations that make trustworthy leaders. You could:
- Deepen your prayer life: Regular Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Adoration, and spiritual direction sustain discernment.
- Pursue thorough formation: Prioritise theological depth, canon law or pastoral studies as appropriate, and professional development in leadership and safeguarding.
- Seek mentors: Learn from experienced pastors and bishops; ask for honest feedback on your strengths and blind spots.
- Serve where needed: Willingness to accept challenging assignments often broadens experience and trust.
- Cultivate humility: Be teachable, avoid self-promotion, and keep service to people at the heart of your ministry.
Above all, stay rooted in the conviction that discernment is God’s work. If the Lord wants you to be a cardinal, He will open the doors in His time through the Church’s legitimate authorities.
Wider Church context that shapes how to be a cardinal
The Catholic Church includes the Latin (Western) Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each with its own traditions. Eastern Catholic patriarchs and major archbishops may be created cardinals, expressing the universal nature of the Church. Understanding these contexts helps anyone exploring how to be a cardinal appreciate the broad tapestry of Catholic life and leadership. For a broader look at traditions and theology in neighbouring Christian communities, see this overview of Orthodox vs Catholic differences, which clarifies similarities and distinctions that matter in ecumenical dialogue.
Related leadership roles and terminology to know when exploring how to be a cardinal
Those asking how to be a cardinal often encounter terms such as “archbishop,” “prefect,” or even the colloquial “Black Pope” (a nickname for the Superior General of the Jesuits due to his black cassock and perceived influence). While the Jesuit leader is not a cardinal by office, understanding these roles helps situate Catholic leadership. For a brief explanation of this nickname and its history, read what people mean by the ‘Black Pope’.
Additionally, it is common to hear of consistories (where new cardinals are created), titular churches (symbolic Roman parishes attached to newly created cardinals), and the distinction between cardinal electors and non-electors. Becoming familiar with these terms can demystify how to be a cardinal and what the office entails day to day.
Recommended external resources
- Comprehensive overview of the College of Cardinals with history, functions, and current membership.
- Holy See Press Office: official list and profiles of current cardinals maintained by the Vatican.
- Code of Canon Law (Canons 349–359): the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church outlining legal foundations of the office.
- Catholic Encyclopedia: article on cardinals with historical context and development of the cardinalate.
Related articles
- Key differences between Orthodox and Catholic traditions
- Meaning and history of the term “Black Pope”
Frequently asked questions about how to be a cardinal
Do you have to be a bishop to become a cardinal?
Usually, yes. Most men created as cardinals are bishops, whether of a diocese or serving in the Roman Curia. However, the Pope can dispense with the requirement of episcopal ordination and name a priest a cardinal, as happened with St John Henry Newman and Avery Dulles, SJ. This exception is rare but shows that holiness and service matter most.
Is there a set age or timetable for how to be a cardinal?
There is no timetable. Many cardinals are in their late 50s to 70s at the time of creation, reflecting years of experience. The key age threshold concerns voting: only cardinals under 80 at the start of a conclave may vote. Men over 80 can still be created cardinals to honour their service, but they do not participate as electors.
Can a layperson learn how to be a cardinal today?
No. Although there were lay cardinals in earlier centuries (who were then quickly ordained), current practice is that cardinals are chosen from the ranks of the clergy. In the present discipline, anyone created a cardinal must at least be a priest, and ordinarily a bishop.
Is how to be a cardinal different for Eastern Catholics?
The fundamentals are similar: a cleric is recognised for service and leadership, then created a cardinal by the Pope. Eastern Catholic patriarchs and major archbishops may be named cardinals, illustrating the universal character of the College of Cardinals. Their liturgical and administrative traditions differ from the Latin Church, but the cardinalate is a sign of unity in diversity.
