cardinal camerlengo, in Roman Catholicism, one of the cardinals and key prelates of the Vatican who is appointed by the pope and is tasked with a specific series of functions in the crucial time of transition from one pope to his successor, including verifying the vacating pope’s death. The role of the cardinal camerlengo has evolved over centuries, shifting from a fiscal administrator to a figure whose duties in the period after a pope dies or resigns have come to fascinate the public.

The cardinal camerlengo is a position different from the camerlengo of the Roman clergy, an honorary position elected by the canons and parish priests of Rome, and different from the former camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, who was responsible for its financial administration and officiated at the funerals of deceased cardinals. Since 1997 the Annuario Pontificio (the pontifical yearbook and the official directory of the Holy See) no longer reports the position of camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals.

History of the role

The term camerlengo derives from the medieval Latin camarlingus, which means “chamberlain” or “attendant to the sovereign’s chamber.” The position arose in the 12th century as a cleric who was appointed by the pope as the head of his administration. In the 13th century this position became such that it no longer expired with the death of the pontiff.

The camerlengo assumed responsibility for the camera thesauraria, an office that was created in the 11th century to administer the finances of the Roman Curia and the temporal goods of the Holy See. In the 12th century the position of camerarius was created, and thus the camerlengo was also known by that position’s name. During the Avignon papacy (1309–77), an era of political antagonism in which seven successive popes took up residency in Avignon, France, instead of Rome, the camerlengo was made one of the closest papal advisers, and the position continued to grow in prominence.

During the vacancy of the Apostolic See (known as sede vacante, or “empty seat”), the camerlengo also had the power to mint money. In the 13th and 14th centuries the role of camerlengo acquired various judicial functions, not only in tax matters but also in certain criminal and civil cases. In 1379 Pope Urban VI extended the camerlengo’s jurisdiction to all legal cases concerning the rights and interests of the Apostolic Camera (Apostolic Chamber, also known as the papal treasury), an office that evolved from the camera thesauraria and became the most important body in the Roman Curia.

In the 15th century the camerlengo was endowed with the cardinalate (i.e., the dignity, or rank, of a cardinal); since that time, only cardinals are permitted to be appointed to the role. A 1621 bull of Pope Gregory XV defined the position’s tasks as chief treasurer of the pope. By the early 19th century, however, political and cultural upheaval in Europe had led to a decline in the role. During this time a wave of revolutionary movements and opposition to clerical rule had spread throughout Europe, as well as a movement for Italian unification (Risorgimento). This upheaval led to the rise of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia (especially the role of the Secretariat of State) to address the international political situation in which the papacy and the Papal States found themselves. Despite a short revival of the role of the camerlengo akin to that of a prime minister in the council of ministers created by Pope Pius IX in 1847, this position was quickly abolished after the Roman revolution of 1848–49 and the subsequent exile of Pius IX to Gaeta until 1850.

With the definitive fall of the Papal States in 1870 and the loss of the temporal power of the pope, the position of the cardinal camerlengo lost most of its governmental role. Its purpose narrowed to its functions at the time of sede vacante—between the death of a pope and the election by papal conclave of his successor. That the cardinal camerlengo’s most important role was—and is—during the vacancy of the papal see is expressed in the apostolic constitution Regimini ecclesiae universae (“Government of the Universal Church”), issued by Pope Paul VI on August 15, 1967, which states:

Are you a student?

Get a special academic rate on Britannica Premium.

Subscribe

The Apostolic Chamber, presided over by the Cardinal Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church or, if he is prevented, by the Vice Camerlengo, retains the office of caring for and administering the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See, during the time in which it is vacant.

Certifying the pope’s death

In the event of the pontiff’s death, the cardinal camerlengo’s first task is to verify that the pope is truly dead. Formerly, the process was to call the pope by his baptismal name three times while lightly striking his forehead with a silver hammer. In the absence of a response, the camerlengo declared the pope’s death with the formula, “Vere Papa mortuus est” (“The pope is truly dead”). This process was used for the last time by a cardinal camerlengo on the body of Pope Pius XI in 1939. A medical doctor’s declaration of death was also requested, though this declaration of death must still be written and signed by the camerlengo.

Instead of tapping the pope’s forehead with a silver gavel, this gesture has been replaced with the simple act of drawing a veil over the deceased pope’s face. Then the camerlengo affixes seals to the papal room and study (or office), takes possession of the Vatican Palace (which is completely sealed off immediately after the death or resignation of the pope), and follows the preparations for the preservation of the body of the deceased pope. He then announces the pope’s death to the cardinal vicar of Rome and to the cardinal archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. After receiving the official news from the camerlengo, the cardinal dean informs all the cardinals, the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, and the leaders of nations around the world.

The destruction of the pope’s lead bulla and signet ring, known as the Fisherman’s Ring, must also be arranged. In a tradition that dates to 1521, these items were destroyed not only to symbolize the end of the deceased pope’s authority but also to safeguard against their misuse, since the ring and bulla were used to seal official papal documents. A special hammer was used by the cardinal camerlengo to break the ring and bulla. However, the ring is no longer used to seal documents, and there have been changes to the tradition of its destruction. The apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis (“Of the Lord’s Whole Flock”), issued by Pope John Paul II on February 22, 1996, states that the cardinals “shall arrange for the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring and of the lead seal” as part of the agenda for the papal conclave (the congregation for the election of the new pope). The constitution does not specify if it is solely the camerlengo’s duty to destroy the ring and bulla. Additionally, the custom of using a hammer to destroy the Fisherman’s Ring was changed in 2013 upon the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. In this case, rather than breaking the ring, its surface was scratched with a deep cross.

Preparing the papal conclave

The cardinal camerlengo—together with the three cardinals representing the orders of the bishops, priests, and deacons, respectively—is also in charge of the preparation of the papal conclave, by which a new pope is elected. The camerlengo safeguards and administers the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See during sede vacante, essentially taking over the Holy See’s day-to-day operation. Therefore, in the event of an attack against the territorial sovereignty of the Holy See, the camerlengo’s duty is to defend its rights. He also prepares the meetings of the cardinals (known as congregations) that take place before the conclave as well as the conclave proper. The apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis addresses the possibility of the sudden death of the cardinal camerlengo during sede vacante:

If, upon the death of the pope or before the election of the successor, the office of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church or of the Major Penitentiary becomes vacant, the College of Cardinals must elect as soon as possible the Cardinal or, if necessary, the Cardinals, who will hold the position until the election of the new Pontiff.

Although the cardinal camerlengo’s powers cease with the election of the new pope, he is one of the few cardinals in the Roman Curia whose functions do not cease with the vacancy of the Apostolic See. Usually, the new pope keeps the camerlengo he inherited from his predecessor and appoints a new one only when the camerlengo reaches age 80 or must step down from his role for health reasons. Thus, the camerlengo is not among the new appointments or reappointments immediately after the conclave. In contrast, the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, such as the cardinal secretary of state and the cardinal prefects, cease to exercise their office until their appointments are confirmed by the new pope.

In Universi Dominici gregis John Paul II modified the voting rules of the papal conclave, declaring that after 30 ballots the traditional requirement of a two-thirds majority to elect a pope may, at the discretion of the cardinals, be superseded by a simple majority. In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI restored the traditional practice of a two-thirds vote and clarified that in the unlikely event that all the ballots, carried out according to the standards in force, have not given a valid election of the next pope, the cardinal camerlengo would consult the cardinal electors regarding how to proceed.

Updates to the role and reform of the Roman Curia

In 2022 Pope Francis updated the role of the camerlengo in the apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium (“Preach the Gospel”), which reformed the Roman Curia. Most notably, Francis abolished the ancient institution of the Apostolic Chamber and connected the functions of the cardinal camerlengo with the newly created (in 2014) dicasteries of the Roman Curia for financial and economic matters—the Council for the Economy and the Secretariat for the Economy. Praedicate evangelium also established that, in carrying out his duties during sede vacante, the camerlengo is helped by the cardinal in charge of the Council for the Economy and by two assistants.