The Philippines takes pride in having its newest "Prince of the Church," in the person of His Eminence, Cardinal-elect Gaudencio Rosales, the Archbishop of Manila. Cardinal-elect Rosales now joins the exclusive College of Cardinals and becomes the sixth Filipino to be elevated to that dignity.
The first Filipino Cardinal is Rufino Cardinal Santos, the second Filipino Archbishop of Manila. The second is Julio Cardinal Rosales, the former Archbishop of Cebu. The third is the well-loved Jaime Cardinal Sin, Cardinal-elect Rosales' predecessor. The fourth is Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. The fifth Filipino to become a cardinal is Jose Cardinal Sanchez, the former Archbishop of Nueva Segovia (Ilocos Sur) and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy. Congratulations Cardinal Rosales! We will be praying for you!
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The Pope creates cardinals of his own volition and in complete independence from civil authority. Candidates are drawn from among male faithful who are at least in the order of priesthood and who distinguish themselves by their morals, their piety, their knowledge and their competence, whatever their nationality. In theory, a lay person can become a cardinal but canon law is firmly committed to a College of Cardinals strictly tied to the clergy.
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Notice that the operative word for the elevation of one to the Cardinalate is "create," not "consecrate" or "ordain." From the theological point of view, the Cardinalate is not of divine origin. The term "cardinal" actually comes from the Latin "cardo" or "cardinis" meaning "hinge." In the 11th century, people who worked most closely with bishops were considered "personae cardinali" or "hinge persons." This was also the case with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, and his "personae cardinali." Thus, cardinals are said to be the hinge persons between the Pope and the People of God.
The cardinals are the Pope's chief advisers. However, the singular, most important role the cardinals play is that of electing a new Supreme Pontiff, when the See of Peter, the Diocese of Rome becomes vacant. We have become witness to this during the Sede Vacante (Vacant Chair) brought about by the death of our beloved Pope John Paul II in 2005.
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It has been a long-standing tradition of the Church to raise certain bishops, archbishops or even priests to the College of Cardinals. Because of their special devotion and holiness, they are called to assist the Holy Father in the governance of the Church. Most Cardinals are either archbishops of the largest dioceses in the world (i.e., Manila, New York, Milan, Caracas, etc) or the heads of the various dicasteries (departments) of the Roman Curia (the Pope's government).
Because cardinals are called to help the Pope in his leadership of the Church, they are also linked in a special way to the Diocese of Rome. Each of the bishops of the "suburbicarian sees" (or the dioceses immediately surrounding Rome), have been given the honor to be raised to the cardinalate by virtue of their holding office there.
In addition, cardinals were given honorary governance of one of the parish churches of Rome. Technically, these cardinals became the parish priests of the said churches, with the Pope as their bishop. In reality, however, the cardinal's role as parish priest is only titular. This is because cardinals who assume this honorary role are usually the ones who also govern their own dioceses in their respective countries. As such, they are encouraged to minister to their community whenever they are in Rome.
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There are three ranks within the College of Cardinals: Cardinal Bishop, Cardinal Priest and Cardinal Deacon. These ranks, however, do not correspond with the actual degree of orders (i.e., bishop, priest and deacon). This distinction has little practical significance except in determining the order and rank for ceremonial processions. At the same time, these ranks determine one's role within the College during the Interregnum, or the period after the death of a pope and the election of a new one.
In the Interregnum of 2005, we saw the representatives of the 3 degrees perform specific functions in liturgical celebrations, as well as in preparations leading to the Papal Election. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany, the most senior of Cardinal Bishops, presided over his brother cardinals in general congregations, consultations and discussions leading towards the election of the new pope. He was the Dean of the College of Cardinals, issuing guidance (not authority) over the other cardinals. He was the primus inter pares, the first among equals.
Meantime, Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan of South Korea, the senior Cardinal Priest, presided over one of the nine mourning masses (Novemdiales), and invested the newly-elected Benedict XVI with a pallium (scarf).
Jorge Cardinal Medina Estevez of Chile, the senior Cardinal Deacon, had the privilege announcing urbi et orbi, "to the city and to the world," the election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Pope.
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The Pope announces the creation of new cardinals in the presence of other cardinals in an assembly called a consistory. The creation is then formalized during another consistory, where the investiture of candidates with the cardinal's insignia takes place. A cardinal who dies before his elevation does not become a cardinal posthumously. Similarly, the death of a Pope before he is able to elevate candidates to the Cardinalate renders their creation null and void.
During the consistory ceremonies, the newly-elected cardinals are required to appear in a cassock of red cloth and red-fringed sash, collar, red socks, mozzetta or shoulder length cape, pectoral (breast) cross with a silken red-and-gold cord, a bishop's ring and black shoes.
The cardinal-designate is asked to kneel before the Supreme Pontiff who then places a red zucchetto or skull cap on the candidate's head.
A red biretta, a brimless square cap with three ridges or flaps, is also placed over the zucchetto. The new cardinal is also given a papal bull (a declaration with the Pope's seal) confirming his creation as a cardinal. He is also assigned a titular church (if he is a Cardinal Priest) or a deaconry or diaconate (if a Cardinal Deacon).
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Each cardinal must have his coat-of-arms with his motto and the picture of a galero or red hat with its two lateral cords hanging with 30 tassels of the same color, 15 on each side, displayed in 5 successive rows. The cardinal's coat-of-arms can be displayed outside his titular church or on his official documents.
The image on the right is an example of a cardinal's coat-of-arms. It is the coat-of-arms of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, the former Archbishop of Manila. His motto is "Serviam," (I Serve).
Cardinals remain as cardinals from their creation until their death. "Your Eminence" is the honorific title given them. As mentioned above, they are also called "Princes of the Church." Only cardinals below the age of 80 at the time of the Pope's death are allowed to participate in a conclave or Papal Election. Those over 80 can still participate in the general congregations (to help decide which characteristic the voting Cardinals should look for in a new Pope, given the prevailing situation) and preside over masses and accompany the clergy and the lay faithful in praying for a successful Papal Election.
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