His is the most important role when a new pope is elected – the dean of the college of cardinals prepares everything for the conclave. But as is the case for all other cardinals, he is only allowed to enter into the Sistine Chapel and participate in the elections, if he is younger than 80 years. For both, who Pope Francis reconfirmed as dean and vice-dean, this is not the case. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is 91 years old and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.
If a Conclave were to take place soon, neither of them would be taking part. Together with the Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrel, Cardinal Re would be preparing the conclave and help with the Church’s administration during the vacancy of the Holy See.
Inside the Sistine Chapel, the conclave would be led by the most senior Cardinal Bishop. Of the 252 living Cardinals, there are only 13 who are Cardinal bishops. This is the highest tier followed by Cardinal priests and Cardinal deacons.
The most senior Cardinal Bishop today is Cardinal Pietro Parolin who is the current Secretary of State and seen as number 2 in the Church hierarchy.
He would preside over the 138 cardinals electing a new successor of Peter. As of today, Pope Francis appointed 110, Pope Benedict XVI 23, and Pope John Paul II 5.
The 88-year-old Holy Father re-appointed the dean and vice dean this February, briefly before he came down with a bout of bronchitis, which ultimately caused his hospitalization.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
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Andreas Thonhauser is EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the WU Executive Academy in Vienna and a Master’s degree in German Philology/Anglistics and Americanistics from the University of Vienna. Prior to joining EWTN, Thonhauser worked as the Director of External Affairs for a global human rights organization, and for several media outlets in Vienna, Austria.
