By Currents News
While the pope is the leader of the universal Church, he is also the bishop of Rome. In early Church history, popes were elected locally by the clergy and people of Rome, with cardinals playing a minor role.
That changed in 1049 with Pope Leo IX, who elevated cardinals from liturgical assistants to counselors. He broadened their ranks by selecting bishops, priests, and religious leaders from across the Christian world. To legitimize their roles in Rome, he assigned them a church, deaconry, or diocese tied to the city—an honor still upheld today when new cardinals receive a titular church along with their red hat.
In the 11th century, Pope Nicholas II reformed the election process, declaring that only cardinals could choose the next pope. Though the conclave has evolved over time, cardinals have remained central to the selection of Saint Peter’s successor.