After the Pope, the "college of Cardinals" is the highest-ranking office in the Roman Catholic Church. The Wikipedia defines "The College of Cardinals" as:
The Sacred College of Cardinals is the body of all Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. The body plays two roles for the church:
- participating in papal elections when the Holy See is vacant, and
- advising the Pope about Church matters when he summons them to a consistory.
There are three ranks of Cardinals: Cardinal Bishops, Cardinal Priests, and Cardinal Deacons. Almost all Cardinals are also bishops. [99]
The St. Joseph Messenger, a Roman Catholic periodical, said:
Cardinals are chosen by the Pope to act as his principal assistants and advisors on affairs of the Church. Collectively they form the Sacred College of Cardinals. They, together with the Pope as the head of the Church and the Vicar of Christ, act as the guardians of the Church on earth. [100]
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