The Pittsburgh Press (February 18, 1946)
Background of news –
The College of Cardinals
By Bertram Benedict
The elevation of 32 Catholic prelates to the cardinalate, in ceremonies at Rome beginning today, sets a record. Previously the largest number of cardinals created at any one time was 31, in 1517. Before 1517, the total number of cardinals frequently had been less than 30.
The present Consistory at Rome sets other records. The United States will have five cardinals contemporaneously for the first time. Canada will have its first English-speaking cardinal, and, like Brazil and Argentina, two members of the Sacred College for the first time. And it is new for Latin America to have as many cardinals – seven – as North America.
No cardinal was named from Mexico, where relations between the Church and the government have long been difficult.
Finally, for the first time in centuries the number of Catholic prelates to be addressed as “Your Eminence” will be larger among non-Italians than among Italians. During the 68-year residence of the popes in Avignon in the 14th century, they named chiefly French prelates as cardinals.
Functions largely honorary
Aside from the all-important responsibility of electing a new pope, the functions of the cardinals are largely titular, ceremonial and honorary, and their duties and powers are greatest in their capacities as bishops and archbishops. The election of the popes by the College of Cardinals became customary in the 11th century, was finally established in 1179.
The pope has full power to name cardinals, also to depose them. Sometimes popes have named cardinals in petto, “in the breast”; that is, the pope keeps the elevation secret for a time. Near relatives of a pope are not named.
For a time during the Middle Ages the cardinals as a body sometimes tried to bind a new pope to certain agreements before electing him; such pre-election agreements were forbidden by Innocent XII in 1695. For a brief time in the medieval period the cardinals claimed the right to depose a pope.
Since the 14th century, every new pope has been chosen from among the cardinals.
Origin of the name
The word comes from cardo, a hinge, around which things turn. At first “cardinal” was used only of clergy in Rome. Then it was applied to a priest attached to a central or episcopal church, then to the ranking priest of such a church. In 1585, Sixtus V forbade “cardinal” to be used to describe any priest not a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals.
Under Pius IV (1559-1565), the number of cardinals rose to 76. The present number, 70, was set by Sixtus V in 1586, supposedly with the 70 elders of Moses as precedent.
The last previous Consistory was in 1937. That brought the number of cardinals to 69 – 40 Italians, 29 non-Italian. None was named after World War II and deaths reduced the number to 38 – 24 Italian, 14 non-Italian.
Only four Italians were included in the 32 recent nominations of the pope, and the Sacred College will now be composed of 27 Italians and 42 non-Italians (an Italian cardinal recently went to his eternal reward).