A cardinal in the Catholic Church is a senior member of the clergy who serves as a principal advisor to the pope and holds significant responsibilities within the Church's hierarchy. Cardinals are typically bishops or archbishops who have been appointed by the pope and are collectively known as the College of Cardinals. Their most solemn duty is to elect a new pope in a conclave when the papal seat is vacant. They also often govern major dioceses or hold important roles within the Roman Curia, the administrative apparatus of the Holy See
. Cardinals are distinguished by their red attire, symbolizing their willingness to defend the faith even to the point of shedding their blood. They are addressed as “Eminence” and are sometimes called princes of the Church
. The title "cardinal" comes from the Latin word cardo , meaning "hinge" or "pivot," reflecting their pivotal role in Church governance and their function as key intermediaries between the pope and the wider Church
. The College of Cardinals is divided into three orders: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons, reflecting historical roles tied to the Diocese of Rome. Cardinal bishops are the senior order, often holding titular suburbicarian sees near Rome, while cardinal priests and deacons hold titular churches or deaconries in Rome but usually serve elsewhere globally
. In summary, cardinals are senior Catholic Church officials appointed by the pope to advise him, manage important dioceses or Vatican departments, and elect the pope’s successor, playing a central role in the governance and continuity of the Catholic Church
