History
Understanding the conclave, the College and the life of the Church: history, procedures, news.
-
History · · 29 min read
The Cardinalate and the Conclave: History, Law and Exceptions
The cardinalate, a central institution of the Catholic Church, is attracting renewed interest on the occasion of the 2025 conclave, particularly due to the participation of Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, a Dominican priest who is not a bishop. This situation offers an opportunity to explore in depth the conditions for access to the cardinalate, the associated titles, episcopal obligations, as well as historical precedents of cardinals and popes who were not bishops.