Dean of the College of Cardinals

In the order of precedence in the Catholic Church, the dean and vice-dean, as the two most senior cardinals, are placed second and third, respectively, after the pope.

[1][2][a] On 26 February 1965, Pope Paul VI empowered the cardinal bishops to elect the dean from among their number.

[1] Until December 2019, the dean held the position until death or resignation; there was no mandatory age of retirement.

The dean also has the responsibility of communicating the "news of the Pope's death to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See and to the Heads of the respective Nations".

If the dean himself is elected pope, the aforementioned tasks are assumed by the sub-dean of the College of Cardinals.