Cardinalbishops

Cardinal bishops are the highest order of cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking above cardinal priests and cardinal deacons within the College of Cardinals. The cardinalate is traditionally divided into three orders: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons. Cardinal bishops are typically bishops who govern one of the suburbicarian dioceses surrounding Rome; the bishop of Ostia, in particular, serves as the Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Currently, there are six suburbicarian sees associated with cardinal bishops: Ostia, Porto-Santa Rufina, Frascati, Albano, Palestrina, and Sabina-Poggio Mirteto. The Dean — usually the cardinal bishop of Ostia — presides over meetings of the College of Cardinals and has ceremonial duties during papal transitions; all cardinals under the age of 80 participate in a papal conclave.

In function, cardinal bishops share in the governance and election of the pope alongside cardinal priests and cardinal deacons. The rank reflects a historical arrangement dating from the early Church, when the College of Cardinals was composed of the bishops of Rome’s most important sees; over time the structure was standardized to the three orders used today.

Cardinal bishops are created by the pope and hold their rank for life. They retain their title as long as they live, and their role within the College remains a senior position within the Catholic hierarchy.