Editing Cardinal (Catholic Church) (section)

== Orders and their chief offices ==
[[File:Vetements cardinal Gamarelli.jpg|thumb|[[Choir dress]] of a cardinal]]

=== Cardinal bishops ===
[[File: Card. Re WIKIPEDIA.png |thumb|upright|[[Giovanni Battista Re]] has been the [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] since 2020.]]

Cardinal bishops (cardinals of the episcopal order; {{Langx|la|cardinales episcopi}}) are the senior order of cardinals. Though in modern times the vast majority of cardinals are also [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]]s or [[archbishops]], few are "cardinal bishops". Until 1150, there were seven cardinal bishops, each presiding over one of the seven [[suburbicarian diocese|suburbicarian sees]] around Rome: [[Bishop of Ostia|Ostia]], [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano|Albano]], [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina|Porto and Santa Rufina]], [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina|Palestrina]], [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto|Sabina and Mentana]], [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Frascati|Frascati]], and [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Velletri-Segni|Velletri]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6YCpraE-7xcC&pg=PA468 John P. Beal, ''New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law''] (Paulist Press 2000 {{ISBN|978-0-80910502-1}}), p. 468.</ref> Of these seven, Velletri was united with Ostia from 1150 until 1914, when [[Pope Pius X]] separated them again, but decreed that whichever cardinal bishop became [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] would keep the suburbicarian see he already held, adding to it that of Ostia, with the result that there continued to be only six cardinal bishops.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11346a.htm Umberto Benigni, "Ostia and Velletri" in ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 1911)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911061217/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11346a.htm |date=11 September 2013 }}; [https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS%2006%20%5B1914%5D%20-%20ocr.pdf Pope Pius X, motu proprio ''Edita a Nobis'' of 5 May 1914 in ''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' VI (1914), pp. 219–220] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303051148/https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS%2006%20%5B1914%5D%20-%20ocr.pdf |date=3 March 2013 }}; {{cite web |url=http://www.ewtn.com/holysee/interregnum/laws.asp |title=History of Papal Electoral Law |website=www.ewtn.com |access-date=1 September 2013 |archive-date=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517135110/http://www.ewtn.com/holysee/Interregnum/laws.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> The actual number of cardinal bishops for the majority of the second millennium was thus six. Since 1962, the cardinal bishops have only a [[Titular church|titular]] relationship with the suburbicarian sees, each of which is governed by a separate [[Ordinary (Catholic Church)|ordinary]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/la/motu_proprio/documents/hf_j-xxiii_motu-proprio_19620411_suburbicariis-sedibus.html |language=la |access-date=2 November 2017 |date=9 April 1962 |title=Suburbicariis sedibus |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |author=Pope John XXIII |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519135053/http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/la/motu_proprio/documents/hf_j-xxiii_motu-proprio_19620411_suburbicariis-sedibus.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Until 1961, membership in the order of cardinal bishops was achieved through precedence in the [[College of Cardinals]]. When a suburbicarian see fell vacant, the most senior cardinal by precedence could exercise his option to claim the see and be promoted to the order of cardinal bishops.<ref name=droit>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=15wpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA136 |pages=136–40, esp. 137–8 "Comment se fait l'option" |language=fr |chapter=Le Droit d'Option des Cardinaux |title=Annuaire pontifical catholique |date=1908 |volume=XI |location=Paris |publisher=Maison de la Bonne Presse |access-date=6 March 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207053858/https://books.google.com/books?id=15wpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA136#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|In certain periods there were additional requirements. Since the 16th century, only a cardinal who was present within 25 [[League (unit)|league]]s of Rome when the vacancy occurred could exercise the option. When the see of [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Frascati|Frascati]] became vacant upon the death of Cardinal [[Tommaso Maria Zigliara|Tommaso Zigliara]] on 11 May 1893, Cardinal [[Francesco Ricci Paracciani]] was in Siena, which disqualified him and allowed Cardinal [[Serafino Vannutelli]] to exercise the option and become cardinal bishop of Frascati.<ref name=droit/><ref>{{cite book |access-date=6 March 2021 |page=704 |title=Acta Sanctae Sedis |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ass/documents/ASS-26-1893-94-ocr.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621172124/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ass/documents/ASS-26-1893-94-ocr.pdf |archive-date=2015-06-21 |url-status=live |date=1893–94 |volume=XXVI}}</ref>}} [[Pope John XXIII]] abolished that privilege on 10 March 1961 and made the right to promote someone to the order of cardinal bishops the sole prerogative of the pope.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/la/motu_proprio/documents/hf_j-xxiii_motu-proprio_19610310_ad-suburbicarias.html |access-date=5 March 2021 |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |author=John XXIII |title=Ad Suburbicarias Dioeceses |language=la |date=10 March 1961 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618001345/https://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/la/motu_proprio/documents/hf_j-xxiii_motu-proprio_19610310_ad-suburbicarias.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|He exercised his new authority later that month by appointing [[Giuseppe Ferretto]] cardinal bishop of [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto|Sabina e Poggio Mirteto]] on 26 March 1961.<ref>{{cite book |access-date=6 March 2021 |page= 199 |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-53-1961-ocr.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412183402/http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-53-1961-ocr.pdf |archive-date=2015-04-12 |url-status=live |date=1961 |volume=LIII}}</ref> Ferretto was the lowest ranking member of the order of cardinal priests and only 62. He had been a cardinal for ten weeks.<ref>{{cite book |access-date=5 March 2021 |title=The Next Pope: After Pope Benedict XVI |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5JVthemvvwC&pg=PA120 |page=120 |first=Anura |last=Guruge |date=2010 |edition=2nd Revised |publisher=WOWNH LLC |isbn=9780615353722 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207054025/https://books.google.com/books?id=B5JVthemvvwC&pg=PA120#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

In 1965, [[Pope Paul VI]] decreed in his {{lang|la|[[motu proprio]] Ad purpuratorum Patrum Collegium}} that [[patriarch]]s of the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] who were named cardinals (i.e. "cardinal patriarchs") would also be cardinal bishops, ranking after the six Latin Church cardinal bishops of the suburbicarian sees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ad Purpuratorum Patrum Collegium |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/la/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19650211_ad-purpuratorum.html |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |access-date=3 December 2017 |author=Pope Paul VI |language=la |date=11 February 1965 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117204903/https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/la/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19650211_ad-purpuratorum.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Latin Church]] patriarchs who become cardinals are [[cardinal priest]]s, not cardinal bishops: for example [[Angelo Scola]] was made the [[Patriarch of Venice]] in 2002 and cardinal priest of [[Santi XII Apostoli]] in 2003. Those of cardinal patriarch rank continue to hold their patriarchal see and are not assigned any Roman title (suburbicarian see, title or deaconry).

At the June 2018 consistory, [[Pope Francis]] increased the number of Latin Church cardinal bishops to match the expansion in cardinal priests and cardinal deacons in recent decades. He elevated four cardinals to this rank granting their [[titular church]]es and deaconries suburbicarian rank {{lang|la|[[pro hac vice]]}} (temporarily)<ref>{{cite web |access-date=26 June 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/26/180626c.html |publisher=Holy See Press Office |date=26 June 2018 |title=Rescriptum of the Holy Father Francis ... |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024195711/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/26/180626c.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and making them equivalent to suburbicarian see titles. At the time of the announcement, all six cardinal bishops of suburbicarian see titles, as well as two of the three cardinal patriarchs, were non-electors as they had reached the age of 80.<ref>{{cite news |work=National Catholic Reporter |date=26 June 2018 |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/new-papal-appointments-reflect-popes-wish-transparency |access-date=26 June 2018 |title=New papal appointments reflect pope's wish for transparency |agency=Catholic News Service |first=Carol |last=Glatz |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192300/https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/new-papal-appointments-reflect-popes-wish-transparency |url-status=live }}</ref> Pope Francis created another cardinal bishop in the same way on 1 May 2020,<ref>{{cite press release |access-date=1 May 2020 |date=1 May 2020 |language=it |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=RESCRIPTUM EX AUDIENTIA SS.MI: Rescritto del Santo Padre Francesco con cui ha deciso di cooptare nell'Ordine dei Vescovi, equiparandolo in tutto ai Cardinali insigniti del titolo di una Chiesa suburbicaria, l'Em.mo Cardinale Luis Antonio G. Tagle, 01.05.2020 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/05/01/0258/00563.html |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200501182453/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/05/01/0258/00563.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RapplerCardinalBishop">{{Cite web |title=Pope promotes Tagle as one of 11 highest ranking cardinals |url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/259678-pope-francis-promotes-tagle-cardinal-bishop |last=Esmaquel |first=Paterno II |date=1 May 2020 |website=Rappler |language=en |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501192554/https://www.rappler.com/nation/259678-pope-francis-promotes-tagle-cardinal-bishop |url-status=live }}</ref> bringing the number of Latin Church cardinal bishops to 11.

The [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]], the highest ranking cardinal, was formerly the longest serving cardinal bishop, but since 1965 is elected by the Latin Church cardinal bishops from among their number, subject to papal approval. Likewise the Vice-Dean, formerly the second longest serving, is also elected. Seniority of the remaining Latin Church cardinal bishops is still by date of appointment to the rank. The current Dean is [[Giovanni Battista Re]] and the Vice-Dean is [[Leonardo Sandri]].

=== Cardinal priests ===

Cardinal priests ({{Langx|la|cardinales presbyteri}}) are the most numerous of the three orders of cardinals in the Catholic Church, ranking above the cardinal deacons and below the cardinal bishops.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=32336 |first=John |last=Hardon |work=Modern Catholic Dictionary |title=Cardinal Priest |publisher=Catholic Culture |access-date=1 September 2013 |archive-date=30 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630185803/https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=32336 |url-status=live }}</ref> Those who are named cardinal priests today are generally also [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]]s of important [[diocese]]s throughout the world, though some hold [[Roman Curia|Curial]] positions.

In modern times, the term ''cardinal priest'' is interpreted as meaning a cardinal who is of the order of priests. Originally this referred to certain key priests of important churches of the [[Diocese of Rome]], who were recognized as the {{em|cardinal}} priests – the important priests chosen by the pope to advise him in his duties as [[Bishop]] of [[diocese of Rome|Rome]]. Certain clerics in many dioceses at the time, not just that of Rome, were said to be the key personnel—the term gradually became exclusive to Rome to indicate those entrusted with electing the Bishop of Rome, the pope.

[[File:Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.jpg|thumb|Cardinal-priest [[Thomas Wolsey]]]]
While the cardinalate has long been expanded beyond the Roman pastoral clergy and [[Roman Curia]], every cardinal priest has a [[titular church]] in Rome, though they may be bishops or archbishops elsewhere, just as cardinal bishops were given one of the [[suburbicarian diocese]]s around Rome. [[Pope Paul VI]] abolished all administrative rights cardinals had with regard to their titular churches, though the cardinal's name and coat of arms are still posted in the church, and they are expected to celebrate Mass and preach there if convenient when they are in Rome.

While the number of cardinals was small from the times of the [[Roman Empire]] to the [[Renaissance]], and frequently smaller than the number of recognized churches entitled to a cardinal priest, in the 16th century the college expanded markedly. In 1587, [[Pope Sixtus V]] sought to arrest this growth by fixing the maximum [[Size of the College of Cardinals|size of the college]] at 70, including 50 cardinal priests, about twice the historical number. This limit was respected until 1958, and the list of titular churches modified only on rare occasions, generally when a building fell into disrepair. When [[Pope John XXIII]] abolished the limit, he began to add new churches to the list, which Popes [[Pope Paul VI|Paul VI]] and [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] continued to do. Today there are close to 150 titular churches, out of over 300 churches in Rome.

The cardinal who is the longest-serving member of the order of cardinal priests is titled ''cardinal [[protopriest]]''. He had certain ceremonial duties in the conclave that have effectively ceased because he would generally have already reached age 80, at which cardinals are barred from the conclave. The current cardinal protopriest is [[Michael Michai Kitbunchu]] of [[Thailand]].

=== Cardinal deacons ===

The cardinal deacons ({{Langx|la|cardinales diaconi}}) are the lowest-ranking cardinals. Cardinals elevated to the diaconal order are either officials of the [[Roman Curia]] or priests elevated after their 80th birthday, chosen mainly for the honor of it, since those over 80 are not able to vote in a conclave. While bishops with diocesan responsibilities are created cardinal priests, it is generally not so for cardinal deacons.

Cardinal deacons derive originally from the seven deacons in the [[Papal Household]] who supervised the church's works in the [[14 regions of Medieval Rome|14 districts of Rome during the early Middle Ages]], when church administration was effectively the [[Papal States|government of Rome]] and provided all [[social services]]. They came to be called "cardinal deacons" by the late eighth century, and they were granted active rights in papal elections and made eligible for the election as pope by the [[Lateran Council (769)|Lateran Council]] of 769.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noble |first=Thomas F. X. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10100806 |title=The Republic of St. Peter: the birth of the Papal State, 680–825 |date=1984 |isbn=0-8122-7917-4 |location=Philadelphia |pages=218 |oclc=10100806}}</ref>

Cardinals elevated to the diaconal order are mainly officials of the [[Roman Curia]] holding various posts in the church administration. Their number and influence has varied through the years. While historically predominantly Italian, the group has become much more internationally diverse in later years. In 1939, about half were Italian. In 1994, approximately one third were Italian. Their influence in the election of the pope has been considered important. They are better informed and connected than the dislocated cardinals but their level of unity has been varied.<ref name="Thomas J. Reese pp. 92–93">Thomas J. Reese, '' Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church'', Harvard University Press, 1996 pp. 92–93.</ref>

Under the 1587 decree of [[Pope Sixtus V]], which fixed the maximum size of the College of Cardinals, there were 14 cardinal deacons. Later the number increased. As late as 1939 almost half of the cardinals were members of the Curia. Pius XII reduced this percentage to 24 percent. John XXIII brought it back up to 37 percent but Paul VI brought it down to 27 percent. John Paul II maintained this ratio.<ref name="Thomas J. Reese pp. 92–93"/>

As of 2005, there were over 50 churches recognized as cardinalatial deaconries, though there were only 30 cardinals of the order of deacons. Cardinal deacons have long enjoyed the right to "opt for the order of cardinal priests" ({{lang|it|optazione}}) after they have been cardinal deacons for 10 years. They may on such elevation take a vacant "[[titular church|title]]" (a church allotted to a cardinal priest as the church in Rome with which he is associated) or their diaconal church may be temporarily elevated to a cardinal priest's "title" for that occasion. When elevated to cardinal priests, they take their precedence according to the day they were first made cardinal deacons, thus ranking above cardinal priests who were elevated to the college after them, regardless of order.

When not celebrating Mass, but still serving a liturgical function, such as the semiannual {{lang|la|[[Urbi et Orbi]]}} [[papal blessing]], some [[Papal Mass]]es and some events at Ecumenical Councils, cardinal deacons can be recognized by the [[dalmatic]]s they would don with the simple white mitre (so called {{lang|la|mitra simplex}}).

==== Cardinal protodeacon ====

The cardinal protodeacon is the senior cardinal deacon in order of appointment to the College of Cardinals. If he is a cardinal elector and participates in a conclave, he [[Habemus Papam|announces a new pope's election]] and name{{efn|The cardinal protodeacon does not announce a new pope's name until the pope elect has been ordained a bishop.<ref>Ap. Const. [https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html Universi Dominici Gregis, No. 89] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506074146/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html |date=6 May 2007 }}.</ref>}} from the central balcony of [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in [[Vatican City]]. The protodeacon also bestows the [[pallium]] on the new pope and crowns him with the [[papal tiara]], although the crowning has not been celebrated since Pope John Paul I opted for a simpler papal inauguration ceremony in 1978.<ref>"Acting in the place of the Roman Pontiff, he also confers the pallium upon [[Metropolitan bishop#Roman Catholic|metropolitan bishops]] or gives the pallium to their proxies." [https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P19.HTM Canon 355 §2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203041419/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P19.HTM |date=3 December 2010 }}.</ref> The current cardinal protodeacon is [[Dominique Mamberti]].<ref name="MartinoDies">{{Cite web |title=Cardinal Martino, former Vatican envoy to U.N. dies at 91 - Catholic Review |agency=Catholic News Service |work=Catholic Review |date=28 October 2024 |access-date=28 April 2025 |url= https://catholicreview.org/cardinal-martino-former-vatican-envoy-to-u-n-dies-at-91/}}</ref>

==== Cardinal protodeacons since 1887 ====
[[File:Coat of arms of Dominique Mamberti.svg|thumb|Coat of arms of [[Dominique Mamberti|Cardinal Mamberti]], current Cardinal [[Protodeacon]]]]
* [[Giuseppe Pecci]], [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]] (20 December 1887&nbsp;– 8 February 1890)
* [[John Henry Newman]], [[Oratory of Saint Philip Neri|C.O.]] (8 February 1890&nbsp;– 11 August 1890)
* [[Joseph Hergenröther]] (11 August 1890&nbsp;– 3 October 1890)
* [[Tommaso Maria Zigliara]], [[Order of Preachers|O.P.]] (3 October 1890&nbsp;– 1 June 1891)
* [[Isidoro Verga]] (1 June 1891&nbsp;– 22 June 1896)
* [[Luigi Macchi]] (22 June 1896&nbsp;– 29 March 1907); announced election of [[Pope Pius X]] ([[Papal conclave, 1903|1903]])
* [[Andreas Steinhuber]], [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]] (29 March 1907&nbsp;– 15 October 1907)
* [[Francesco Segna]] (15 October 1907&nbsp;– 4 January 1911)
* [[Francesco Salesio Della Volpe]] (4 January 1911&nbsp;– 5 November 1916 (his death)); announced election of [[Pope Benedict XV]] ([[Papal conclave, 1914|1914]])
* [[Gaetano Bisleti]] (5 November 1916&nbsp;– 17 December 1928);{{efn|name=cardinal-priest|Ceased to be protodeacon upon being raised to the order of cardinal-priest}} announced election of [[Pope Pius XI]] ([[Papal conclave, 1922|1922]])
* [[Camillo Laurenti]] (17 December 1928&nbsp;– 16 December 1935){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Camillo Caccia-Dominioni]] (16 December 1935&nbsp;– 12 November 1946 (his death)); announced election of [[Pope Pius XII]] ([[Papal conclave, 1939|1939]])
* [[Nicola Canali]] (12 November 1946&nbsp;– 3 August 1961 (his death)); announced election of [[Pope John XXIII]] ([[Papal conclave, 1958|1958]])
* [[Alfredo Ottaviani]] (3 August 1961&nbsp;– 26 June 1967);{{efn|name=cardinal-priest}} announced election of [[Pope Paul VI]] ([[Papal conclave, 1963|1963]])
* [[Arcadio Larraona Saralegui]], [[Claretians|CMF]] (26 June 1967&nbsp;– 28 April 1969){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[William Theodore Heard]] (28 April 1969&nbsp;– 18 May 1970){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Antonio Bacci]] (18 May 1970&nbsp;– 20 January 1971 (his death))
* [[Michael Browne (cardinal)|Michael Browne]], [[Dominican Order|OP]] (20 January 1971&nbsp;– 31 March 1971 (his death))
* [[Federico Callori di Vignale]] (31 March 1971&nbsp;– 8 August 1971†)
* [[Charles Journet]] (8 August 1971&nbsp;– 5 March 1973){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Pericle Felici]] (5 March 1973&nbsp;– 30 June 1979);{{efn|name=cardinal-priest}} announced elections of [[Pope John Paul I]] ([[Papal conclave, August 1978|1978]]) and [[Pope John Paul II]] ([[Papal conclave, October 1978|1978]])
* [[Sergio Pignedoli]] (30 June 1979&nbsp;– 15 June 1980 (his death))
* [[Umberto Mozzoni]] (15 June 1980&nbsp;– 2 February 1983){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Opilio Rossi]] (2 February 1983&nbsp;– 22 June 1987){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Giuseppe Caprio]] (22 June 1987&nbsp;– 26 November 1990)
* [[Aurelio Sabattani]] (26 November 1990&nbsp;– 5 April 1993){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy]] (5 April 1993&nbsp;– 29 January 1996){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Eduardo Martínez Somalo]] (29 January 1996&nbsp;– 9 January 1999){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Pio Laghi]] (9 January 1999&nbsp;– 26 February 2002){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Luigi Poggi]] (26 February 2002&nbsp;– 24 February 2005){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Jorge Medina (cardinal)|Jorge Medina]] (24 February 2005&nbsp;– 23 February 2007);{{efn|name=cardinal-priest}} announced election of [[Pope Benedict XVI]] ([[Papal conclave, 2005|2005]])
* [[Darío Castrillón Hoyos]] (23 February 2007&nbsp;– 1 March 2008){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Agostino Cacciavillan]] (1 March 2008&nbsp;– 21 February 2011){{efn|name=cardinal-priest}}
* [[Jean-Louis Tauran]] (21 February 2011&nbsp;– 12 June 2014);{{efn|name=cardinal-priest}} announced election of [[Pope Francis]] ([[Papal conclave, 2013|2013]])
* [[Renato Raffaele Martino]] (12 June 2014&nbsp;– 28 October 2024 (his death))<ref>{{cite news |work=La Stampa |language=it |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2014/06/12/vaticaninsider/ita/vaticano/martino-diventa-cardinale-protodiacono-senza-habemus-papam-dHcpHr2npVizIsSXyjVfHM/pagina.html |access-date=23 January 2018 |date=12 June 2014 |title=Martino diventa cardinale protodiacono (senza "Habemus Papam") |first=Jacopo |last=Scaramuzzi |archive-date=24 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070934/http://www.lastampa.it/2014/06/12/vaticaninsider/ita/vaticano/martino-diventa-cardinale-protodiacono-senza-habemus-papam-dHcpHr2npVizIsSXyjVfHM/pagina.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dominique Mamberti]] (28 October 2024&nbsp;– present);<ref name="MartinoDies"/> announced election of [[Pope Leo XIV]] ([[2025 papal conclave|2025]])