Editing Cardinal (Catholic Church) (section)

==="Lay cardinals"===
{{Main|Lay cardinal}}

At various times, there have been cardinals who had only received [[tonsure#Western Christianity|first tonsure]] and [[minor orders]] but not yet been [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|ordained]] as [[deacon]]s or priests. Though [[Clergy|clerics]], they were inaccurately called "[[lay cardinal]]s". [[Teodolfo Mertel]] was among the last of these cardinals. When he died in 1899 he was the last surviving cardinal who was not at least ordained a priest. With the revision of the [[1917 Code of Canon Law|Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1917]] by [[Pope Benedict XV]], only those who are already priests or bishops may be appointed cardinals.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/LAT0813/_PO.HTM canon 232 §1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229235610/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/LAT0813/_PO.HTM |date=29 December 2016 }} of the 1917 Code of Canon Law.</ref> Since the time of [[Pope John XXIII]], a priest who is appointed a cardinal must be consecrated a bishop,<ref>Cf. [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P18.HTM canon 351 §1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102110536/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P18.HTM|date=2 January 2013}} of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.</ref> unless they receive a papal dispensation from this requirement.