Cardinal Deacons And Cardinal Priests

[OnlySunshine]

I heard, during the Conclave, the mention of "Cardinal Deacon" and "Cardinal Priest."  All I've ever heard of before are Cardinal Bishops or Archbishops.  Can you explain the difference, please?  Do Cardinal Priests and Deacons preside over a parish?  Thanks!

Edited March 21, 2013 by MaterMisericordiae

[qfnol31]

Cardinals are named from within the Church by the Holy Father and are usually bishops from certain dioceses or filling particular offices of the Church. For instance, the Archbishop of Washington, DC or New York City normally is given the red zuchetto after he is installed. These are considered very important Sees. Also, for example, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is also named a cardinal (see Cardinal Levada for example). This is an important position in the Roman Curia. Sometimes the Holy Father might name a priest to the position of cardinal (like Karl Becker, SJ, or Avery Dulles, resquiat in pace).

 

Within the College of Cardinals, there are three ranks for the different cardinals:

• Cardinal-bishops
• Cardinal-priests
• Cardinal-deacons

Cardinal bishops are the most senior prelates (bishops and patriarchs) of the Church (including Eastern Churches in union with Rome). As a sign of their position, they are given what is called a "titular diocese," one of the dioceses right outside of Rome. They aren't really made bishops of these dioceses in the same sense that your bishop is, but they're made titular bishops. Here's a list of the current Cardinal-bishops and their titular sees. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardx1.html  If you look at it, you'll see that the Dean of the College of Cardinals gets two (Ostia and one other one).

 

Cardinal-priests are metropolitans, or archbishops of major dioceses. Most cardinals are of this order of cardinals. Cardinal-priests are given a church in Rome as a titular church. Each cardinal will visit this as a pastor visits his own whenever he visits Rome. These churches hold high honor in Rome and retain their honor after the death or retirement of their cardinal-priest.

 

Cardinal-deacons are the lowest rank. Not as many cardinals are invited to this rank, and it is normally reserved for those clergymen who are not bishops of major dioceses. Older priests who are named cardinals and bishops who are named cardinals while part of the curia are invited to this rank. After ten years they can ask to be included in the rank of cardinal-priests if they so choose, or they may remain a cardinal-deacon. The cardinals of this rank also get a titular church, but a minor Roman church (as opposed to a major church). If they advance to the level of Cardinal-priest, they may change churches or have their church elevated temporarily. 

 

I hope this helps. These three levels of cardinals are very confusing and are not well established. Outside of the college they aren't really all that relevant to most people, and even inside the college they don't really matter except as far as the titular sees and churches go. The ranks don't affect voting and don't affect any hierarchies, as far as I know. When cardinals process in during Mass, they pay attention to curial position and consistory, not these rankings, which to me is strange.

[cappie]

There are three classes of cardinals: Cardinal bishops who are the bishops of the seven suburbs of Rome, Cardinal priests who oversee the dioceses in major metroplitan areas around the world, and Cardinal deacons who are priests serving administrative functions within the curia. The differences between the degrees of cardinal have little practical significance and stems from the fact that in 12th century the cardinals consisted of 7 bishops of dioceses around Rome, 28 priests from various Roman churches, and 20 deacons.