How do you become a cardinal: essential guide with 7 key steps

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How do you become a cardinal

Asking “how do you become a cardinal” is really asking how the Roman Catholic Church identifies, prepares, and formally appoints some of its most senior leaders. The answer is not a do-it-yourself checklist, but a blend of vocation, long service, episcopal leadership, and finally, the Pope’s choice. In this guide, we clarify what a cardinal is, why the role matters, the typical path that leads there, and the formal process by which a man is created cardinal.

For adults curious about the Catholic hierarchy, understanding how cardinals are chosen sheds light on how the Church maintains continuity, offers global leadership, and elects a Pope. If you’ve ever wondered how do you become a cardinal, you’ll find that the process is both straightforward at its core—only the Pope can appoint a cardinal—and nuanced in practice, reflecting pastoral needs, tradition, and the Church’s mission in the world.

The short answer to how do you become a cardinal

The short answer to “how do you become a cardinal” is: you are appointed by the Pope. There is no application form, no public nominations, and no campaigning. The Pope, advised by trusted collaborators, freely chooses men—typically bishops of notable dioceses or senior officials in the Roman Curia—and declares them cardinals in a ceremony called a consistory.

Canon law sets the framework. The Code of Canon Law (Canons 349–359) explains the cardinals’ role and how they are created. While, in modern practice, cardinals are almost always bishops, the Pope can dispense with episcopal consecration in particular cases. In all cases, it’s the Pope’s prerogative: that is the essence of how do you become a cardinal.

The role of a cardinal: why it matters

Cardinals are principal advisors to the Pope and members of the College of Cardinals. Those under 80 are “cardinal electors” who can vote in a conclave to elect a new Pope. Beyond the famous red attire and the biretta (the red hat), the role symbolises willingness to serve the Church “even to the shedding of blood”—a vivid expression of fidelity and sacrifice.

Understanding this role is central to understanding how do you become a cardinal: the Church elevates those whose life and ministry already reflect steadfast service, sound teaching, and leadership suited to the Church’s needs across continents and cultures.

Basic prerequisites and the typical path

Although there is no single path, there is a common pattern that helps explain how do you become a cardinal in real life. It unfolds over decades.

1) From seminarian to priest

Almost all cardinals begin as priests. After a period of discernment, a candidate studies philosophy and theology, often completing advanced degrees such as a Licentiate or Doctorate in Theology or Canon Law. Ordination follows, usually leading to years of parish work, diocesan responsibilities, and steady growth in pastoral and administrative experience.

2) Episcopal leadership

Most cardinals are bishops first. A priest may be appointed by the Pope as an auxiliary bishop, then later as a diocesan bishop or archbishop. Leading a diocese, especially a large or strategically significant archdiocese, is a common step on the way to the cardinalate. It is here that many future cardinals demonstrate doctrinal fidelity, prudent governance, and the ability to lead and pastor a diverse flock.

3) Service in Rome or major sees

Two broad avenues often lead to the red hat. One is service in the Roman Curia (the Church’s central administration), where senior administrators and canonists serve as key advisors on global matters. The other is leadership of a major archdiocese or a diocese in a region the Pope wants to highlight pastorally—what some call the “peripheries.” These are typical pathways; they do not mechanically determine who gets chosen, but they show the kind of trusted leadership the Pope tends to elevate when answering how do you become a cardinal.

Titles within the College: cardinal-bishop, cardinal-priest, cardinal-deacon

All cardinals belong to one of three orders, which reflect roles and traditions rooted in the Church of Rome:

Cardinal-deacons: Often senior Vatican officials serving in the Curia. They are assigned a deaconry (a church in Rome) as their title.
Cardinal-priests: Typically diocesan archbishops and bishops around the world. They are given a titular church in Rome, symbolising their link to the Diocese of Rome and the Pope.
Cardinal-bishops: A small number, historically tied to the suburbicarian sees around Rome; today, this order includes some senior appointments and Eastern Catholic patriarchs.

These orders do not represent a hierarchy of holiness but a structure of service. They remind us that “how do you become a cardinal” answers not just the who and how, but the why: to root global leadership in a living bond with the Bishop of Rome.

The selection process in practice: how do you become a cardinal today

Behind the scenes, the papal nuncios (the Pope’s ambassadors) keep Rome informed about local churches. Curial departments assess global needs. The Pope listens, prays, and decides. There is no public shortlist. Names circulate privately, and the final list of future cardinals is announced weeks ahead of a consistory.

When Catholics ask, “how do you become a cardinal today?”, it’s helpful to remember that no one “wins” the cardinalate. It is an office of service granted by the Pope for the good of the Church, not a badge of personal achievement. Appointments often reveal priorities: new evangelisation, care for migrants, outreach to the poor, dialogue, or giving voice to regions underrepresented in Church governance.

The consistory and the ceremony

At a consistory, the Pope formally “creates” the new cardinals. Each receives the red biretta, a ring, and a letter (bull) naming his Roman title (a church or deaconry). The rite underscores what how do you become a cardinal ultimately signifies: a public commitment to stand with the Pope and the Church, come what may.

For authoritative background on the College, see the Vatican’s official overview: College of Cardinals: official documentation. For legal details, consult the Canons 349–359 on cardinals.

Criteria popes consider

There is no checklist that guarantees how do you become a cardinal, but certain qualities are commonly evident:

Orthodoxy and fidelity: A proven record of teaching and living the Catholic faith.
Pastoral leadership: Effective care of people, from parishes to entire dioceses.
Administrative competence: Sound governance; the ability to handle complex, sensitive matters.
Global perspective: Service that reflects the Church’s universal mission, not just local concerns.
Integrity and discretion: Trustworthiness in representing the Church publicly and privately.
Contribution to evangelisation: Commitment to proclaiming the Gospel, often where the Church is growing or under pressure.
Age and health: Those under 80 can vote in a conclave; over-80 cardinals serve without voting rights. Balance matters.

Common misconceptions about how do you become a cardinal

Several myths circulate when people ask how do you become a cardinal. Here are the most common:

“You can apply or campaign.” False. There is no application or lobbying process. The Pope freely chooses.
“Cardinals must all be Italians or in Rome.” Not anymore. The College has become significantly more global, reflecting the Church’s worldwide presence.
“Cardinals outrank bishops in spiritual authority.” The cardinalate is an office of service, not a separate sacramental order above bishop. A bishop who becomes a cardinal gains responsibilities, not a higher sacramental rank.
“Any senior church official is a cardinal.” Not so. For example, some confuse the Jesuit Superior General—nicknamed the “Black Pope”—with a cardinal. He is not automatically a cardinal. See this explainer on the meaning of the ‘Black Pope’.
“All Christian traditions have cardinals.” The office of cardinal is specific to the Catholic Church; Orthodox churches have different structures. For context, read about the differences between Orthodox and Catholic churches.

Special cases and recent trends

Since the Second Vatican Council, nearly all men created cardinals have been bishops. Yet recent Popes have occasionally dispensed with episcopal consecration for distinguished priests—often veteran theologians or pastors—whose health or circumstances made episcopal ordination impractical. Such exceptions are rare and underscore the Pope’s freedom in deciding how do you become a cardinal in any given case.

Another clear trend: a College that mirrors the global Church. Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have regularly elevated pastors from rapidly growing churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as leaders serving marginalised communities. This demonstrates that how do you become a cardinal is tied not only to rank or size of a diocese but to a pastor’s witness, the needs of the faithful, and the Church’s evangelising mission.

Step-by-step overview: how do you become a cardinal

Although no one can plan their way to the red hat, this overview shows the typical sequence that answers how do you become a cardinal:

Discern a vocation: A man senses a call to priesthood; he is formed in seminary and ordained after due preparation.
Serve faithfully as a priest: Parish work, chaplaincy, teaching, diocesan roles—decades of service marked by pastoral care and good judgement.
Appointment as bishop: The Pope appoints him as a bishop (often starting as an auxiliary), then possibly as a diocesan bishop or archbishop.
Distinguished leadership: Sound governance of a diocese or important service in the Roman Curia. Reputation for orthodoxy, compassion, and prudence.
Papal selection: Quiet consultation; the Pope decides, announces a consistory, and publishes the list of those to be created cardinals.
Creation at a consistory: The Pope confers the biretta and the cardinal’s ring; assigns a titular church in Rome; the new cardinal enters the College.
Ongoing service: Participation in synods, curial work or diocesan leadership; if under 80, the duty to vote in a conclave.

Life as a cardinal: responsibilities after elevation

A cardinal’s life does not become ceremonial; it becomes more demanding. He often sits on Vatican congregations or dicasteries, travels for synods and missions, and continues to shepherd his diocese if he is an archbishop. If he works in the Curia, he may help shape policy on liturgy, doctrine, or charitable outreach. The workload increases, not the prestige alone.

In short, the answer to how do you become a cardinal continues after the consistory: cardinals are expected to counsel the Pope, support unity in the Church, and serve as credible witnesses to the Gospel in a complex world.

Recommended external resources

Frequently asked questions about how do you become a cardinal

Can a priest be made a cardinal without being a bishop?

Yes, though it is uncommon. The current norm is that cardinals are bishops, but the Pope can dispense from episcopal consecration and create a priest a cardinal for grave reasons. In such cases, the priest remains a priest but holds the office of cardinal. This exception underscores the Pope’s freedom in determining how do you become a cardinal.

Do you apply or get nominated publicly to become a cardinal?

No. There is no application process, no public lobbying, and no election by peers. The Pope chooses candidates privately, informed by reports from nuncios and curial officials. The first public indication, in most cases, is the Pope’s announcement of a consistory with the names of those to be created cardinals.

What age limits affect cardinals?

Men over 80 may be created cardinals, but they cannot vote in a conclave. Those under 80 are “cardinal electors” and will participate in choosing a Pope. This is a practical point many people have in mind when they ask how do you become a cardinal and what that means for papal elections.

Can a married man become a cardinal?

In the Latin Church, bishops are chosen from celibate clergy. Historically, there were rare “lay cardinals,” but this practice ended long ago. Current law presumes cardinals are at least priests; since the Catholic Church reserves priestly ordination to men, and Latin-rite bishops are celibate, a married man would not be made a bishop and therefore would not ordinarily be created a cardinal.

How many cardinals are there, and does the number matter?

The total number

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