The Cardinals have not always chosen the pope. Originally, they were members of the Church of Rome who did it, but this change during the Middle Ages, only to make the Cardinals, a panel of clergy from the diocese of Rome, would be entitled to elect the successor of the apostle Peter . The In nomine Domini Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope Nicholas II in 1059 limited the power of choice to the cardinals who were Roman bishops. It was in 1179 when Pope Alexander III (Apostolic Constitution licet vitanda of discord) extends to all the cardinals that right. In 1274 Blessed Pope Gregory X fixed for the election of the pope were the only two-thirds vote of the cardinals assembled (Ubi periculum Apostolic Constitution). Both provisions remain in force.
In more modern times, monarchs English, Spanish and French had to prime ministers and cardinals: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in England, Cardinal Alberoni in Spain, Richelieu and Mazarin in France. Also the most important European courts forced the appointment of certain cardinals in Rome to manage their respective interests. These men were not cardinals by their religious functions, but because they allowed their kings with taxes paid clergy. Rome accepted the loss of those taxes to protect the rest of his property and income.
In theory, the potato can replace the College of Cardinals for another body of electors at any time, although we need to amend the Code of Canon Law (Chapter III, Canon 349 ff.) Typically, a change to the status of election To stick to the last century, since the time of Pius X and more intense during the papacies of Pius XII, Blessed John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II, have changed the rules and number of members of the College Cardinals. A recurring proposal was that the Synod of Bishops is the body that chooses the Pope. However, this can not but meet at the request of the Pope.
Either way, membership in the College of Cardinals by co-operating, because it is a pope who appoints the cardinals who in turn appoint (or elect) the next pope. Formerly referred ironically even a "giovane College of Cardinals, which was the pope appointed a group to force a majority with the election of his successor. In the case of long papacies, cooptation is evident: it is important to consider the very special case of the long pontificate of John Paul II (which was not the case with John XXIII or Paul VI, whose suficientmenete papacies were not long to allow the renovation of the College) and, in general, potatoes that have held office for more than fifteen years. Of the cardinals eligible to vote for the successor of John Paul II, a total of 115 (actually 117, but two did not attend the conclave for health reasons), only two had not been appointed by this pope. There is founded suspicion, therefore, that a pope at least suggests the way for his successor to continue using it for the power to appoint cardinals who will vote among clergy who are ideologically similar. However, usually the surprise jump in 2005 was elected Joseph Ratzinger, one of the two that had not been appointed cardinals by Pope John Paul II but by its preantecesor Paul VI.
It should be noted that, according to the "motu proprio" Cum ingravescentem aetatem 1970 and the Roman Pontifical eligendo apostolic constitutions of 1975 and the latest 1996 Universi Dominici Gregis, any cardinal elector loses his condition the same day that meets the 80 years of age. Thus some cardinals, especially the order of deacons (often with distinguished cardenalato as an excellent career renococimiento) have been named after it exceeded that age, never have the eligibility to vote.
The College of Cardinals is the highest hierarchy "Dean", the "Dean" (see "Cardinals bishops") and "Chamberlain", Officer of the Holy See, which is responsible for the organization of the seat vacant and the conclave. It has a prelate secretary and treasurer, positions are not necessarily held by cardinals.
