How Much Does a Cardinal Make Per Year? Average Cardinal Salary

A cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church is usually a bishop first, though not always. He is appointed to the College of Cardinals by the Pope. In certain cases, the diocese pays for their expenses, whereas in other cases, they receive salary from where they work. The average catholic cardinal salary is $20,000. The College of Cardinals is empowered to elect the Pope. Cardinals also serve as advisors to the Pope and hold positions of authority within the structure of the Catholic Church. A cardinal attends the meetings of the College and sometimes leads a diocese. Cardinal Bishops are among the most senior prelates of the Catholic Church. Cardinal bishops are the only order of cardinals who have always been required to be bishops. In addition to the named cardinals, the pope may name secret cardinals.