Cardinals

next to the pope, the highest dignitaries in the Roman Catholic church. The college of cardinals, charged with the duty of electing the pope, consists of seventy members, though the college is seldom, if ever, full. The pope fills vacancies by appointment. Scarlet is the distinguishing color of the cardinal. The pope signifies an appointment by sending a messenger to place an official scarlet hat on the head of the bishop or archbishop whom he wishes to honor; hence the expression "to send a red hat," or, "to receive a red hat." Other articles of a cardinal's attire are a red cap, a purple cassock, a sapphire ring, and a mitre of white silk. Archbishop McClosky became the first American cardinal 1875. In 1906, 7 cardinals were Spanish; 6 French; 3 German; 1 Belgian; 1 Brazilian; 3 Austrian; 2 Hungarian; 1 American; 1 Bohemian; 3 British and Irish; the rest were Italians. See Pope