Cardinal deacons derive originally from the seven deacons in the Papal Household who supervised the Church's works in the 14 districts of Rome during the early Middle Ages, when church administration was effectively the government of Rome and provided all social services. They came to be called "cardinal deacons" by the late eighth century, and they were granted active rights in papal elections and made eligible for the election as pope by the decree of 769.
Cardinal deacons derive originally from the seven deacons in the Papal Household who supervised the Church's works in the 14 districts of Rome during the early Middle Ages when church administration was effectively the government of Rome and provided all social services They came to be called "cardinal deacons" by the late eighth century and they were granted active rights in papal elections and made eligible for the election as pope by the decree of 769