What is The College of Cardinals Report?
The College of Cardinals Report is a groundbreaking new website aimed at helping members of the Sacred College know one another better in view of the next conclave and into the future.
Who is behind the project?
The project is led by Vatican journalists Edward Pentin, author of The Next Pope: Nineteen Leading Cardinal Candidates (Sophia Institute Press), and Diane Montagna, the project’s executive director. It has been produced in association with Sophia Institute Press and Cardinalis Magazine, a French Catholic publication.
What features does the website offer?
The College of Cardinals Report presents in-depth profiles on 40 cardinals and offers a user-friendly color-coded table showing where these cardinals stand on 10 key issues facing the Catholic Church and society today. The site also offers summary profiles of the 200+ remaining members of the Sacred College.
The first interactive online resource of its kind, readers can filter a complete list of cardinals by relevant categories, discover geographical and statistical breakdowns through an interactive map, and offer amendments or additions to cardinal profiles (which will be vetted for accuracy before being implemented).
Its Conclaves section allows visitors to learn more about the history of the Sacred College, the roles of the present-day cardinals, and how the conclave works, as well as the qualities needed to be a pope, drawing on historical guidance from figures such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
How many cardinals are comprehensively profiled?
The site currently showcases 40 cardinals in-depth with plans to add more profiles in the future.
How detailed are the in-depth profiles?
The comprehensive profiles include key biographical data, a summary of main qualities and attributes, details on how cardinals have fulfilled the three main works or “offices” of bishop (sanctifying, governing, and teaching), and a color-coded guide to their stance on 10 key contemporary issues facing the Church.
Will the website be available in other languages?
Yes, the project plans to expand with professionally translated editions, starting with a complete Italian version to be launched soon.
Why was this website created?
The College of Cardinals Report was created in response to requests from cardinals and others worldwide who want to know more about the Princes of the Church, any of whom could become the next pope. It aims to assist cardinals in their discernment and inform the media, Catholic faithful, and the public at large about potential papal candidates.
Why is this resource particularly important now?
Many of the recently created cardinals are less well-known than those of past pontificates as Pope Francis has chosen them from “periphery” locations. Francis also ceased holding regular consistories in 2014, leaving the cardinals with few opportunities to meet one another. This resource aims to help them become better acquainted.
How is this project unique?
The first interactive and most comprehensive site of its kind, it provides unprecedented access to information about the College of Cardinals, and the ability for cardinals, clergy and laity to offer amendments or additions to cardinal profiles. It is a fact-centered repository of information that promises to serve as a reliable guide to Catholic leadership for years to come.
Is there historical precedent for this type of project?
Yes, centuries ago cardinals used private discussions and correspondence to learn about each other. In the eighteenth century, detailed biographies called tableau de cardinaux were also compiled. This project serves as a modern equivalent to those historical practices.
Why are papabili (leading candidates to be pope) listed on the site when Pope Francis is still alive?
During a conclave, the window of opportunity for cardinals to get to know a potential pope is small. We therefore wanted, responding to a need, to create this resource now, well ahead of the next papal election. We obviously mean no disrespect to Pope Francis, and we pray for him and for his pontificate.
How have the papabili been chosen?
The names of the leading cardinal candidates have been chosen by consulting Vatican experts and others. They are the candidates most frequently discussed in Rome and elsewhere. The twelve papabili featured on the homepage and on the full list are subject to change.
