The Sacred College of Cardinals is the body of all Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. The body plays two roles for the church: participating in papal elections when the Holy See is vacant, and advising the Pope about Church matters when he summons them to a consistory. Historically, they were also the clergy of the city of Rome serving the Pope as the Bishop of Rome and were assigned duties in parishes of the city. The College has no ruling power except during the sede vacante period, where its powers are still extr ...

Including:

• College of Cardinals - Choosing the pope
• College of Cardinals - Members of the College of Cardinals
• College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Bishops
• College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Priests
• College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Deacons

Read more here: » College of Cardinals: Encyclopedia - College of Cardinals

The following is the list of Cardinals as of December 2005. Cardinals are shown in order of precedence, based on seniority by date of appointment. Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan is considered the most senior member of the College by length of service, as he was listed first of those surviving from the 1969 consistory. However, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, as dean of the College of Cardinals, has the highest precedence as a Cardinal Bishop. Cardinals aged over 80 are indicated with an asterisk (*), and no others will turn 80 before February ...

See also:

College of Cardinals, College of Cardinals - Choosing the pope, College of Cardinals - Members of the College of Cardinals, College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Bishops, College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Priests, College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Deacons

Read more here: » College of Cardinals: Encyclopedia II - College of Cardinals - Members of the College of Cardinals

Since January 1, 1971, cardinals over the age of 80 have not had a vote in papal election, under the terms of Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Ingravescentem Aetatem. The rules for the election of the pope are now those stated in Universi Dominici Gregis, published by Pope John Paul II on 22 February 1996. It now states that cardinals over the age of 80 at the day the see become vacant do not have a vote in the papal election. Although the rules of the Conclave explicitly say the Pope need not be chosen from amo ...

See also:

College of Cardinals, College of Cardinals - Choosing the pope, College of Cardinals - Members of the College of Cardinals, College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Bishops, College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Priests, College of Cardinals - Cardinals of the Order of Deacons

Read more here: » College of Cardinals: Encyclopedia II - College of Cardinals - Choosing the pope