Currently, no woman holds the office of cardinal in the Catholic Church. The role of a cardinal is typically held by a bishop, and the Church's doctrine currently reserves ordination to the priesthood and episcopacy exclusively for men.
Understanding the Cardinalate
The cardinalate is a unique and significant office within the Catholic Church, but it is important to understand its nature:
- Office, Not an Order: The cardinalate is a privilege and office bestowed by the Pope; it is not a separate, fourth degree of Holy Orders. The degrees of Holy Orders recognized in the Catholic Church are deacon, priest, and Bishop. While the cardinalate ranks above these, it does not constitute an additional level of ordination.
- Appointment: Cardinals are appointed by the Pope and serve primarily as his closest advisors and, crucially, as the electors of a new Pope in a papal conclave.
- Historical Development: Historically, cardinals were clerics (deacons, priests, or bishops) serving the Diocese of Rome. Over time, the role expanded to include prelates from around the world.
Current Canonical Requirements
Under current canon law, cardinals must be men who have received holy orders. Specifically:
- Ordination Requirement: To be appointed a cardinal, a man must at least be a priest. However, it is customary that those appointed are already bishops. If a priest is appointed, he is required to be ordained a bishop before taking up the cardinalate, unless he receives a papal dispensation.
- Exclusion of Women from Holy Orders: The Catholic Church definitively teaches that only baptized men can be validly ordained to the diaconate, priesthood, and episcopacy. This theological and canonical position is the primary reason women cannot be cardinals under the current structure, as the office is intrinsically linked to the ordained ministry.
Theoretical Possibility and Future Considerations
Despite the current regulations, the distinct nature of the cardinalate as an office rather than an order introduces a theoretical distinction:
- Amendable Laws: Since the cardinalate is not a Holy Order, the laws governing who can be a cardinal could theoretically be amended to allow for women to be cardinals. This distinction is crucial because the Church's teaching on the ordination of women to Holy Orders is considered a definitive theological matter, whereas the requirements for the cardinalate are matters of ecclesiastical law.
- Papal Prerogative: The Pope, as the supreme legislator of the Church, has the authority to modify such laws. However, any such change would represent a significant shift from centuries of tradition and practice within the Catholic Church.
Key Aspects of the Cardinalate
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Nature | A privilege and office bestowed by the Pope; it is not a degree of Holy Orders. |
| Primary Role | Advising the Pope and electing his successor in a conclave. |
| Current Requirement | Traditionally, cardinals must be ordained men (priests, customarily bishops). |
| Women's Status | Currently, women cannot be cardinals due to the requirement of ordination, which is reserved for men. |
| Future Potential | Theoretically, the laws could be amended to allow for women to be cardinals, as the cardinalate is an office and not tied to the immutable nature of Holy Orders. |
In summary, while the current laws of the Catholic Church prevent women from becoming cardinals, the underlying nature of the cardinalate as an appointed office rather than a sacred order means that, in theory, the requirements could be changed by papal decree.
