How does someone become a cardinal: complete essential guide: 5 steps

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How does someone become a cardinal? The complete guide

If you have ever wondered, in practical terms, how does someone become a cardinal, you are not alone. The Catholic Church is global, complex, and centuries old, and the rank of cardinal is one of its most recognisable offices. Understanding who becomes a cardinal, why they are chosen, and what they do helps demystify how decisions at the heart of the Church are made, especially when it comes to electing a Pope and guiding the Church’s direction.

This clear, friendly guide explains what a cardinal is, the path and criteria typically involved, the formal steps from selection to the public ceremony, and the realities and misconceptions surrounding the process. By the end, you will have a practical grasp of how does someone become a cardinal and why this role matters for Catholics and observers alike.

What is a cardinal and why it matters

A cardinal is a senior churchman in the Roman Catholic Church who serves as a principal adviser to the Pope. The College of Cardinals together acts as a consultative body and, crucially, is responsible for electing a new Pope in a conclave when the papacy is vacant. While bishops govern dioceses and carry out sacramental ministry, cardinals have a distinctive role that is organisational and advisory; many are also diocesan bishops or hold leadership posts in the Roman Curia.

Importantly, being a cardinal is not a sacramental rank like deacon, priest, or bishop. It is an office conferred by the Pope. That is one reason people ask how does someone become a cardinal: because it is not achieved by ordination to a “fourth” sacramental level, but by papal appointment, typically recognising exemplary service, leadership, and trust.

Basic concepts behind how does someone become a cardinal

Before looking at the steps, it helps to understand a few basics that shape how does someone become a cardinal in practice:

The College of Cardinals: This is the worldwide body of cardinals. Under current law, those under 80 years of age at the time a papal vacancy occurs are the cardinal electors who can vote in a conclave.
Orders of cardinals: Historically there are three ranks within the College—cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons—reflecting ancient Roman clergy structures. Today, these ranks indicate functions and seniority rather than sacramental differences.
Titular churches: Each new cardinal is assigned a church in Rome (or a suburbicarian see for certain senior cardinals) to symbolise their bond with the Diocese of Rome and its bishop, the Pope.
Age and numbers: There is a customary ceiling of 120 cardinal electors, originally set by St Paul VI and confirmed by St John Paul II, though recent Popes have occasionally exceeded this figure in practice.

For the legal framework, see the canons on the College of Cardinals (cc. 349–359) in the Code of Canon Law. The rules for papal elections are set out in St John Paul II’s Universi Dominici Gregis.

Step-by-step: how does someone become a cardinal

There is no public job posting for cardinals, nor a formal application process. Still, the path usually follows recognisable stages. In broad outline, here is how does someone become a cardinal:

Distinguished priestly and episcopal service: The vast majority of new cardinals have long track records as priests and usually as bishops or archbishops. They are known for pastoral leadership, theological clarity, and fidelity to the Church’s teaching and mission.
Appointment to a major see or Curial office: Many cardinals are archbishops of significant dioceses (for example, a national capital or a historic metropolitan see) or serve as prefects or secretaries of Vatican dicasteries (departments). These posts make their names stand out when the Pope considers candidates.
Papal discernment and selection: The Pope alone decides whom to create as cardinal. He seeks wide counsel, reviews dossiers, and often aims for a balance of pastoral experience, geographic representation, and specific expertise.
Announcement of a consistory: The Pope announces a consistory (a formal meeting of cardinals) and publishes a list of the men he intends to “create” as cardinals. From this moment the candidates are known as “cardinals-designate”.
Creation at the consistory: At the consistory in Rome, the Pope formally creates the cardinals, bestows the red biretta and ring, and assigns each a titular church, marking their incorporation into the clergy of Rome.
Oath and responsibilities: The new cardinals make a profession of faith and take an oath of fidelity. Those under 80 join the ranks of cardinal electors eligible to vote in a future conclave, and all new cardinals become advisers to the Pope according to their office and competence.
(Usually) episcopal consecration: If the new cardinal is not already a bishop, he is typically ordained a bishop unless the Pope dispenses him from that requirement for particular reasons.

Who can be chosen: criteria the Pope looks for

Because the Pope has freedom in appointments, there is no fixed checklist. Yet several qualities help answer the question of how does someone become a cardinal:

Proven fidelity and judgement: A cardinal must be someone the Pope can trust with high-level counsel and governance.
Pastoral leadership: Significant experience shepherding people—often in diocesan leadership—demonstrates real-world prudence and compassion.
Doctrinal soundness and theological formation: Many cardinals have postgraduate degrees in theology, canon law, or philosophy, and have taught or published.
Global representation: Recent Popes have expanded the geographic spread of the College, elevating leaders from growing or overlooked regions.
Health, stamina, and availability: The role involves travel, meetings, and demanding responsibilities, especially for those in the Curia.
Age profile: While there is no minimum age in law beyond priestly ordination, most new cardinals are seasoned leaders. Those under 80 at the time of a papal vacancy will be electors.

Typical pathways to the red hat

Although the Pope can choose whomever he judges fit, there are recognisable routes that explain how does someone become a cardinal in today’s Church:

Major archdioceses: Archbishops of historic or populous sees—such as those in capital cities or long-established centres—are commonly created cardinals.
Roman Curia: Prefects or senior officials of key Vatican dicasteries are often made cardinals, reflecting their executive role in Church governance.
Eastern Catholic leaders: Patriarchs and major archbishops of Eastern Catholic Churches may be created cardinal bishops or cardinal priests, acknowledging their global leadership.
Mission territories and the peripheries: Recent consistories have elevated pastors from places previously without a resident cardinal, underscoring evangelisation beyond traditional centres.

These paths illuminate how does someone become a cardinal: by faithful service where the needs of the Church are greatest, whether in the heart of Rome, a vast archdiocese, or the frontiers of mission.

The consistory: the public moment someone becomes a cardinal

The consistory is the ceremony in which the Pope formally creates new cardinals. The ritual includes the imposition of the red biretta, the giving of the cardinal’s ring, and the assignment of a titular church. Beyond pageantry, it is a canonical act that brings the new cardinal into the College and into close collaboration with the Pope. For an overview of the structure and legal meaning, the canons cited earlier and the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis provide the authoritative context.

In recent decades, the consistory has often been an occasion for the Pope to underline priorities—such as evangelisation, social concern, or the importance of the peripheries—by the places and profiles of the new cardinals chosen. This visible dimension helps many understand how does someone become a cardinal not just legally, but pastorally.

Duties and privileges after creation

Once created, a cardinal’s first duty is to support the Pope with advice and action. Depending on his role, he may lead a particular Church (as a diocesan bishop), head a Vatican department, serve on councils and commissions, or undertake special missions. If he is under 80, he will also be called to the conclave to elect a new Pope when the See of Rome is vacant.

Cardinals rank as the Pope’s principal collaborators, but they remain servants of the Church and people. The red colour of their attire symbolises a willingness to defend the faith, even to the shedding of blood. Understanding this symbolism helps answer how does someone become a cardinal in spirit: through a life oriented to sacrifice and service, not status.

Common misconceptions about how does someone become a cardinal

“It’s a sacramental promotion.” No. Being a cardinal is not a sacrament; it is an office conferred by the Pope. The sacramental hierarchy remains deacon, priest, bishop.

“You can apply or campaign for it.” No. There is no application or campaign. The Pope selects candidates discreetly, based on counsel and his judgement of the Church’s needs.

“Cardinals are all from the same countries.” Not today. The modern College is increasingly diverse, reflecting the global growth of Catholicism.

“The ‘Black Pope’ is in charge of cardinals.” The nickname “Black Pope” refers to the Superior General of the Jesuits, not to a cardinal or to someone who outranks the Pope. For background, see this explanation of the so-called ‘Black Pope’.

“Orthodox and Catholic cardinals are the same.” The title “cardinal” is specific to the Catholic Church. To understand differences in leadership structures and titles more broadly, see this overview of Orthodox vs Catholic traditions.

Risks, responsibilities, and everyday realities

Cardinals live in the public eye. They must navigate media scrutiny, complex governance questions, and the pressing needs of their people. Travel and heavy workloads are common, especially for those in the Curia or in sprawling dioceses. These realities may shape how does someone become a cardinal in the Pope’s discernment: he needs men of prayer, resilience, and prudence, not merely accomplishment.

Historical notes and recent examples

Historically, some cardinals were not bishops, and a few were even laymen until the early twentieth century. Today, Church law expects new cardinals to be at least priests and, normally, to receive episcopal consecration unless the Pope dispenses from it for specific reasons. Recent Popes have sometimes dispensed well-known pastors or theologians from becoming bishops when creating them cardinals, emphasising the service they already render.

Recent consistories have illustrated the living answer to how does someone become a cardinal: Popes highlight missionary dynamism by elevating bishops from fast-growing Churches, honour pastoral courage in challenging contexts, and recognise the vital work of Vatican departments that serve local Churches worldwide.

Recommended external resources

Frequently asked questions about how does someone become a cardinal

Does a cardinal have to be a bishop?

By current law, those created cardinals should be at least priests, and if not already bishops they are ordinarily consecrated bishops after creation. However, the Pope may dispense from episcopal ordination for particular reasons. This flexibility has been used for respected theologians or senior pastors whose current ministry is better served without becoming diocesan bishops.

Can a layperson be made a cardinal today?

In past centuries, there were a few “lay cardinals”, but that practice ceased. Today, canon law expects cardinals to be at least priests. While the Pope has very wide discretion, contemporary practice presumes clerical status, and the modern discipline has not included lay cardinals.

How old are cardinals, and when do they stop voting?

There is no fixed age for creation, but most cardinals are seasoned leaders. Those who are under 80 at the time a papal vacancy occurs are eligible to vote in the conclave. After their 80th birthday, cardinals continue to serve the Church in various ways but no longer participate as electors.

How many cardinal electors are there?

The customary ceiling for voting cardinals is 120, a limit shaped by twentieth-century reforms, although recent Popes have periodically exceeded that number. The overall size of the College (including non-electors over 80) is larger, and it fluctuates as new cardinals are created and others age out or die.

What happens at a consistory?

The Pope publicly “creates” the new cardinals, confers the red biretta and ring, and assigns a titular church in Rome. The cardinals make a profession of faith and oath of fidelity, and those under 80 join the roster of potential papal electors. The ceremony is the visible culmination of how does someone become a cardinal.

Can someone refuse to become a cardinal?

It is rare, but possible. A nominated person could ask to decline for grave reasons such as health. Ultimately, the Pope decides whether to accept such a request. Most nominees accept, recognising the call to serve the universal Church.

Do women become cardinals?

No. Under current Catholic discipline, cardinals are chosen from among men who are at least priests. Since the Church reserves priestly ordination to men, women are not made cardinals. Women, however, hold many significant leadership and advisory roles in the Church, including within the Roman Curia.

Conclusion on how does someone become a cardinal

At its heart, the answer to how does someone become a cardinal is simple: the Pope chooses men he trusts to advise him and to serve the Church’s mission at the highest level. The visible ceremony of the consistory crowns a long arc of dedicated ministry—often as a bishop or Vatican official—and inserts the new cardinal into the College that elects the next Pope and supports the current one.

Yet the process is not a ladder of personal promotion. It is a call to deeper service, symbolised by the red biretta that stands for courage and fidelity. Understanding how does someone become a cardinal—through proven pastoral leadership, sound doctrine, global vision, and availability for demanding duties—helps us see beyond the headlines to the purpose of the role itself.

If you have ever felt that church governance is impenetrable, take this as a practical map: discernment by the Pope, a public act of creation at a consistory, and a life of counsel and service

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