<P> Cardinals are princes of the Church appointed by the Pope . He generally chooses bishops who head departments of the Roman Curia or important episcopal sees throughout the world . As a whole , the cardinals compose a College of Cardinals which advises the Pope , and those cardinals under the age of 80 at the death or resignation of a Pope elect his successor . Their heraldic achievement is surmounted by the red galero and tassels as a form of martyred position in the Church . </P>
<P> Cardinals are princes of the Church appointed by the Pope . He generally chooses bishops who head departments of the Roman Curia or important episcopal sees throughout the world . As a whole , the cardinals compose a College of Cardinals which advises the Pope , and those cardinals under the age of 80 at the death or resignation of a Pope elect his successor . Their heraldic achievement is surmounted by the red galero and tassels as a form of martyred position in the Church . </P>
who advises the pope in the church hierarchy
who advises the pope in the church hierarchy
College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals