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Catholic World News News Feature

Ratzinger Named Dean of College of Cardinals December 02, 2002

VATICAN, Dec 2, 02 (CWNews.com) -- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has been elected the new dean of the College of Cardinals, to replace the retiring Cardinal Bernardin Gantin.

With Cardinal Gantin leaving Rome to live out his retirement in his native Benin, the five cardinals who hold the rank of "cardinal bishop" gathered to elect his successor, and chose Cardinal Ratzinger, the German-born prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The dean of the College of Cardinals is responsible for convening the cardinals-- most importantly, in case of the death of a pope. He also presides at meetings of the cardinals, including papal conclaves. And if a papal election takes place, the dean has the duty to ask the elected prelate if he will accept the role, and announce his election to the public.

The dean of the College of Cardinals also serves as representative of that group at formal ceremonies. Thus, for instance, Cardinal Ratzinger will be expected to deliver the Christmas greetings of the Roman Curia to Pope John Paul II at a traditional meeting that is scheduled for December 23.

Because Cardinal Ratzinger had been the vice-dean, a second election was held to fill that spot. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State, was selected. The election was held on November 27, but the results-- approved by Pope John Paul II-- were not announced until November 30. In a letter to Cardinal Gantin, made public that same day, Pope John Paul thanked the outgoing dean for his "life dedicated to the service of the Lord in deep communion in thought and affection with the Successor of Peter." Cardinal Gantin is scheduled to leave Rome on Wednesday, after a final private meeting with the Pontiff.

The departure of Cardinal Gantin will close a remarkable career of Vatican service. The cardinal has spent 31 years in Rome, serving in several important curial posts. Having reached the age of 80, he sought and received the Pope's permission to return to his native land, to help with the work of evangelization there. "When I came to Rome, I brought a bit of Africa with me," he told reporters. "And in returning to Benin, I will bring a bit of Rome to Africa." The dean of the College of Cardinals is selected by the few prelates who are ranked as "cardinal-bishop." That ranking-- like the other two rankings of "cardinal-priest" and "cardinal-deacon"-- is purely honorific today. The titles trace back to the origins of the College of Cardinals as the clergy of the Rome diocese, when the bishops of the surrounding dioceses gathered with their priests and deacons help the pope set out Church policies.

Today the cardinal-bishops are Cardinals Ratzinger, Sodano, and Gantin (who remains a cardinal-bishop, while no longer serving as dean), and Cardinals Roger Etchegaray and Alfonso Lopez Trujillo. The two Eastern Catholic patriarchs who have been named to the College of Cardinals-- Patriarchs Ignace Moussa Daoud and Nasrallah Sfeir-- also carry the rank of cardinal-bishop, but do not participate in the election of the dean.