It's not easy to become a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic church, and you don't have a lot of control over the matter past a certain point.Here are the things you should know if you feel called to this path.
Step 1: Determine if you're eligible.
To become a cardinal in the Catholic Church, you need to meet a few basic requirements.You have to be Catholic, male and unmarried.You have to take a vow of celibacy along with being unmarried.If you have other qualifications, you can still become a member of the clergy.You need to take a vow of celibacy for the future.You can't be divorced if you want to become a member of the clergy.
Step 2: You should be active in your parish and catholic community.
Clergy are expected to be involved in the lives of Catholics they serve.Being active in your parish and the broader Catholic community before you even start the process will give you a taste of what it can be like and may look better to the people in charge.
Step 3: Discerning a calling to religious life is important.
It should go without saying, but becoming a bishop or a priest requires a full-time spiritual commitment.Before embarking on further in the process, you should make sure that God is calling you to religious life.Asking for guidance from your priest is part of the discernment process.Additional information, as well as guidance, can be provided by your parish priest and other leaders in your Catholic community.These people can help you with your personal decisions.
Step 4: You can get a Bachelor's Degree.
An accredited institution will give you a four-year undergraduate degree.Your degree can be in any subject, but a degree in Catholic philosophy is better.You don't need top-of-the-class grades if you are an average or above average student.
Step 5: You can enroll in a pre-theology program.
The Pre-Theology Program requires 30 and 12 credit hours of philosophy and theology courses, respectively.If you take courses from a Catholic university that match the courses required in a Pre-Theology Program, you might be able to satisfy the requirements in part or in full during your undergraduate education.
Step 6: You can get a Master of Divinity degree at seminary.
You can get a four-year graduate degree from a Catholic seminary.If you want to attend a seminary school, you need letters of recommendation from current leaders in the church.A seminary will give you courses in biblical studies, Catholic philosophy and theology, liturgy, pastoral studies and preaching.If you are called to a religious vocation, a seminary should be able to help you discern.Preparing you academically as well as spiritual is what this means.It is not a permanent decision to enter seminary.You can't be a priest until you take your final vows.
Step 7: As a deacon, you should spend some time.
You have to spend six months as a deacon before you can be a priest.You will be expected to take part in the running of the parish you are assigned to.It's like a trial period for the priesthood when you're a deacon.When you become a priest, you will have to take care of many of the duties assigned to you by the priest of your assigned parish.The priest of your assigned parish can give an opinion on whether or not you are fit for the priesthood.
Step 8: Become an ordination officer.
The final stage of the path to the priesthood is gaining the bishop's approval with all of your educational requirements completed.The bishop of your diocese will decide if you are a good priest.Once the bishop of your diocese approves you, there will be an official ceremony in which you will take your vows and become a priest.The bishop of your diocese will assign you a position after Holy Orders.Usually, you will be appointed as a priest or an assistant priest to a parish within the diocese, but sometimes you'll be called upon to help out at a Catholic hospital or another similar post.Your requests may or may not affect your final position.
Step 9: You need a doctorate in theology.
If you want to become a bishop, you need a PhD in Theology.The program at a Catholic university will teach you theology from the perspective of the Catholic church, so you can improve your odds even further.
Step 10: Gain more experience.
If you want to be chosen, you should have experience, but it's not an official requirement.You should be 35 years of age or older and a priest for five years or more if you want to make the cut.It helps if you get a name for yourself during this time.The more active you are as a priest, the more likely you will be noticed by the right people.
Step 11: Wait for a local bishop to retire or die.
The number of bishops is determined by how many dioceses there are.If you want to become a bishop, you have to wait for the bishop of your diocese to retire or pass away, creating an open position.The age of retirement for bishops is 75.
Step 12: Wait for the news to come.
You can't apply or run to become a bishop.The initial selection of candidates must go through a number of channels before the new bishop is chosen.You will probably hear about the position within a few months if you are chosen.The local bishop selects priests from the area who they think are capable of performing the duties of a bishop.The candidates are put on a list and sent to the Nuncio.The ambassador to Rome is the Apostolic Nuncio.He reviews the names on the list sent to him, and after doing a series of interviews and research, he chooses three candidates from that list.The names were passed to the Congress of Bishops in Rome.The Congress of Bishops in Rome will make a decision on who should be the new bishop.The Apostalic Nuncio will need to pick three more candidates if they don't like anyone.The name is passed to the Pope if they like someone.The Pope is looking at a candidate.The candidate becomes the new bishop if he approves.The Apostalic Nuncio needs to pick new candidates if he vetoes it.
Step 13: Understand the role of the cardinal.
The hierarchy of the Catholic Church suggests that a cardinal is not the boss of other bishops.The title "cardinal" is actually just an additional title for a bishop.According to Church law, new cardinals should be priests before being considered for appointment.Sometimes elderly priests who have gained great esteem and have performed admirably for the Church can be appointed as cardinals without first becoming a bishop.
Step 14: There are different categories ofCardinals.
There are three different ranks among the cardinals.No rank is higher than the others, but each rank has its own responsibilities.Full-time service to the central administration of Church affairs within the Roman Curia is provided by Cardinal bishops.Outside of Rome, Cardinal priests are bishops.Full-time service to the Roman Curia is the primary duty of Cardinal deacons.
Step 15: You can improve your odds by becoming an archbishop.
If you are the bishop of just about any diocese, you can be appointed as a cardinal, but the bishops or archbishops of certain dioceses are more likely to be selected than many others.If you want to know where your best chances are, take a look at the bishops who have been made cardinals over the past few decades.Baltimore and Boston are the two most commonly headed dioceses in the United States.An archbishop is a bishop who governs over his own diocese while also leading other smaller dioceses in a metropolitan district.
Step 16: Get an appointment from the Pope.
As with becoming a bishop, there is no way to apply for a job as a cardinal.You need to hope that the current Pope sees your efforts, recognizes them as significant, and decides that you should be a Cardinal by God's will.It helps to be a notably pious bishop, in addition to the suggestions already mentioned.You must demonstrate your dedication to God's will and desire to lead the Catholic faithful of the flock you've been given charge of in order to be noticed and considered.
Step 17: The oath is taken by the Cardinals.
You will need to take a vow to express your dedication in your new position after being selected to become a cardinal.You will receive a ring and a hat during the ceremony, as well as a new title.One rough translation of the Cardinal's Oath is "I promise and swear to be faithful forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church."Help me, Almighty God.