College of Cardinals

The College of Cardinals is the body of the Catholic Church’s cardinals. It advises the pope and elects a new pope in conclave when the papacy is vacant.

Papal vacancy: A period when the Catholic Church has no pope, usually after a pope’s death or resignation. A vacancy activates the College’s responsibility to elect a successor.
Cardinal (Catholic Church): A senior cleric appointed by the pope to serve as a principal adviser and, if eligible, elect a successor. The College is made up of cardinals.
Bishop of Rome: The bishop who leads the church of Rome and holds the papal office. The College’s election of a pope selects the next Bishop of Rome.
Apostolic succession: The transmission of ministerial authority through an unbroken succession of bishops traced to the apostles. By electing a pope, the College determines the next holder of Rome’s apostolic office.
Synod of Bishops: A body of bishops that advises the pope on matters concerning the Catholic Church. Unlike the College, it does not elect a pope during a vacancy.
Universi Dominici Gregis: The 1996 apostolic constitution that sets rules for papal vacancies and conclaves, as amended by later papal acts. It codifies the procedures governing the College during a vacancy.
Pope: The bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. The pope appoints cardinals and receives the College’s counsel.
Roman clergy: The ordained ministers serving the church of Rome, historically including the clergy who advised and elected its bishop. The College grew from groups of Roman clergy involved in papal elections.
Papal primacy: The Catholic doctrine that the pope holds supreme authority in the universal Church. The College’s choice determines who exercises papal primacy.
Ecumenical council: A formal assembly of Catholic bishops called to deliberate on doctrine, discipline, or church governance. A council addresses church-wide questions; the College’s distinctive task includes papal election.

Linked from 23 pages