Vatican City: Pope Francis has promoted Cardinal Benjamin Stella, head for the clergy, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, head for evangelism, Archbishop Ilson D. Ellis, Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops. Cardinal Kevin Farrell is the current Camerlengo of the Catholic Church. In the event of a Pope being held or ex-communication, Camerlengo is responsible for the administration of the Vatican until the next Pope’s election.
There are three hierarchies among cardinals. The Cardinal- Bishop hierarchy is the highest. Cardinal-Priest, Cardinal-Deacon is the other series. The Cardinal Dean is elected from among the bishops of the Cardinal-Bishop series. There were usually only six cardinal-bishops in the church at one time. However, in 2018, Pope Francis promoted the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to four more Cardinal-Bishop ranks. Pope Francis has appointed new appointees based on the age of Cardinals and Bishops.
In 1965, Pope Paul VI announced that when the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches are elevated to the Cardinal, they too will be in the Cardinal-Bishop hierarchy. Accordingly, the three heads of the Eastern Churches are now in the Cardinal-Bishop hierarchy. The Diocese of Puerto Santo Rufina, located on the border of Rome, will be the Diocese of Cardinal Benjamin Stella. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will continue to be in charge of the local shrine, located in Rome, San Felice da Cantilis a Centicoli. Archbishop Tagle is a cardinal from the Philippines.
