Q. 1.What are the three ranks of the Cardinals?

A. 1. The three ranks of Cardinals are the Cardinal Bishop, the cardinal deacon and the Cardinal priest.

Only six Cardinals hold the title of Cardinal Bishop. Each Cardinal Bishop holds jurisdiction over a church in a suburb of Rome. These Cardinals work in departments of the Roman Curia, the central administration of the church.

Often called “the pope’s cabinet,” Cardinal deacons work full-time in the Curia. When a new Pope is elected, the senior Cardinal deacon has the honor of announcing his name from the balcony of the Vatican.

Cardinal priests are Bishops who serve in dioceses outside of Rome in Italy.

The overwhelming majority of Cardinals are Cardinal priests.