After the death of Francis in 88, cardinals gather in Rome to choose the new Pope: who they are and what they do

Cardinals from all over the world have started combining in Rome to prepare a competition to select a successor for Pope Francis in Rome, who died at the age of 88 on Monday. As the Catholic Church stands in a decisive infection, the eyes turn to men who will eventually choose their new leader – but what is a cardinal, what is there anyway?
Catholic Church
A cardinal from Latin Cardinalis, which means “Principal”, is one of the top officials of the Catholic Church, appointed by the Pope to help the government. Most important decasters are led by cardinals, equal to government ministries within the Vatican. He has an official title of “Cardinal of the Holi Roman Church”.
Conducted in Cardinals CollegeHe has a dean-now 91-year-old Italian Jiovani Batista forms the cup of Catholic leadership again. Although the cardinal is more than a defined situation, most cardinals are bishops posted in different parts of the world, and some live in Rome, the central government of the church uses important positions within Curia.
Pope-makers
Of the 252 cardinals present today, only under 80 years of age, or “cardinal election”, is actually allowed to cast a vote for a new pope. There are 135 such voters.
The conclave is called within the cystine chapel, where the election takes place under strict function and privacy which has not changed much for centuries. Once the cardinals finished operation of the mourning ceremony for Francis, the conclave would begin.
Made, not named
Cardinals are not appointed; They are “created” by a unique pope bull. The word derived from Roman use means that the recipient is promoted to the rank due to his personal ability, not because he is assigned to an empty office.
Under the Vatican Rules, the Pope can create a cardinal among the men who are “in practical matters really excellent in virtue, purity and prudentness.”
Importance of Cardinal Red
Cardinals can be easily identified by their Scarlet Red Westments – a color of the Roman Senate power in the east, now symbolizes readiness to die for Christ’s blood and church.
They have a sapphire ring, a pectoral cross, a crosser (a formal employee), and a mater (a formal headdress) as part of their formal wear.
A political appointment
The appointment of cardinals is not only a religious choice, but also very political. Each Pope uses its appointment power to determine the future of the church.
Pope Francis enhanced the college of cardinals by appointing men from “periphery” – which is historically involved in low areas by Rome – so that the church is global, global, to make more representatives of the nature of Catholicism around the world and affect the choice of its successor.
Decline privilege
Despite their standing, the privilege cardinals were once taken, progressively wiped out. Cardinals – Those who are formally addressed as “eminence” – are just below the pope and can be called mass in any church outside Rome. They also have the right to interfere inside the churches.
But after the second Vatican Council, dramatic changes began to be effective, which removed the indulgence of private train coaches and throne rooms in their homes.
Pope Francis took it a step forward: In 2021, he directed a decrease in salary of cardinals to compensate the damage caused by the Koronwirus epidemics, and in 2023, he abolished the tradition of providing free apartments on rent within the Vatican City.
As the world sees Rome, the meditation has moved to these influential leaders – who they are, how they were chosen, and how they will define the next chapter of the Catholic Church.