New Cardinal Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva receives the red three-cornered biretta hat from Pope Francis during a consistory inside St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Aug. 27, 2022.

The most recent change in the College of Cardinals took place on Feb. 24, when Cardinal José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán turned 80 and was thus removed from the ranks of cardinal-electors.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a College of Cardinals that is the most geographically diverse in centuries, name tags help, said cardinals gathering to begin the process of electing a successor to Pope ...

The College of Cardinals traces its origins to the early centuries of the Catholic Church in Rome, evolving into its current form under Pope Nicholas II in 1059.

As of the consistory on Sept. 30, Francis’ college will have 136 cardinal-electors, meaning they are under 80 years old and thus eligible to vote in any papal election.

Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to cast a vote for pope, under current Vatican rules. The Catholic Church has a list of the College of Cardinals and biographies for the 119 electors.

Each pope puts his own stamp on the College of Cardinals, looking for prelates who support his views on where the church should go. Francis has now appointed 63% of the cardinal electors; 29% were ...

I regret that the Holy Father did not name any women religious or lay people to the Sacred College. Unlike the office of bishop, priest and deacon, the office of cardinal is not of divine institution.

Over the last seven years, Francis has gradually remade the college of cardinals through his appointments. He has now chosen 57% of the 128 cardinal electors who could choose his successor.

Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to cast a vote for pope, under current Vatican rules. The Catholic Church has a list of the College of Cardinals and biographies for the 119 electors.