Cardinals

Answers to commonly asked questions about the process on electing a pope as the world waits for the day the white smoke appears.

Cardinals already present in Rome and those who were able to get to the city after Pope Francis’ death April 21 held their first meeting at the Vatican April 22.

Popes have made a habit of exceeding the statutory limit on the number of cardinals under the age of 80, but Pope Francis is planning to set a record.
The pope announced Oct. 6 that he would create 21 new cardinals Dec. 8; fully 20 of the men named are under the age of 80 and would be eligible to enter a conclave to elect a pope.

Cardinal Pell died of a heart attack Jan. 10 at a Rome hospital after undergoing hip surgery. He was 81. His burial was scheduled for Feb. 2 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, where he had served as archbishop before Pope Francis chose him as prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.

In focus: Texas execution, war in Ukraine and Ethiopia, upcoming papal trip

In the spotlight: Pope’s visit to L’Aquila, new cardinals, Pope Benedict XVI, Ukraine

In a ceremony to create 20 new cardinals, Pope Francis encouraged the College of Cardinals to have the same spiritual zeal for all people, whether they are in positions of power or ordinary Christians.

Today there are more than 90 countries represented in the entire college and 71 countries among the electors. That’s a notable increase from 2005, when all 117 eligible cardinal electors came from 53 countries.