CARDINALS

 The death of the Pope has a lot of people talking and asking questions.  I have been asked a lot of questions by Catholics, other Christians and non-christians.  Questions about the Pope; about Cardinals; about the election of a new Pope. It's made me dig up more information.  Maybe you have questions too.

Here is some information about the Cardinals about which people have inquired.

There is no definite number of Cardinals; no limit to the number, no minimum number.  As of last week there were 252 Cardinals.  

Cardinals elect the pope when the position is open; but only Cardinals below the age of 80 can vote.  Right now, there are 135 eligible to vote;  all the others are over 80.

Only the Pope can name a Cardinal.  Pope Francis named 21 Bishops to the position of Cardinal last December.  One of those was already over 80   

There are 17 Cardinals in the United States.  Here are their names with location if applicable.  Some have specail duties.  Of these 17, only 10 are elegible to vote for the new Pope because of their age.

 Robert Francis Prevost, special; Roger Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles; James Stafford, special; Justin Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia; Sean Patrick O'Malley, special; Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston; Raymond Leo Burke, special; Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington; Edwin Frederick O'Brien, special; Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York; James Michael Harvey, special; Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago; Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark; Wilton Daniel Gregory, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington; Robert W. McElroy, Archbishop of Washington;  Kevin Farrell, special.