cardinal
Also known as cardinalate, prince of the church
senior ecclesiastical official of the Catholic Church
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A cardinal is a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church who advises the Pope and helps lead the organization. Cardinals are important because they elect new Popes when a vacancy occurs and play a key role in the Church's governance and decision-making.
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Article
The coat of arms of a cardinal (who is a bishop or archbishop) is indicated by a red galero (wide-brimmed hat) with 15 tassels on each side (the motto and escutcheon are proper to the individual cardinal).
A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. As titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, they serve as advisors to the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. Cardinals are chosen and formally created by the pope, and typically hold the title for life. Collectively, they constitute the College of Cardinals. The most solemn responsibility of the cardinals is to elect a new pope in a conclave when the Holy See is vacant. With a few historical exceptions, popes are elected from among the College of Cardinals.