New cardinals? They'll be more of the same

The good news is 15 new cardinals seem to be on the Roman horizon. The bad news is they are all men. Yes, Francis will choose from the peripheries. Yes, he will most probably select the usual suspects — the archbishops of Washington, D.C., and Paris, for example. But a mix of major sees, elderly theologians and surprise picks is probably the best he can do right now.

Don't expect a woman's name to be on the list.

The 1917 Code of Canon Law decreed cardinals — advisers to the pope and electors of his successor — must be "at least" priests. The 1983 code added they "must receive episcopal ordination" if not already bishops (Canon 351.1).

Not every cardinal-designate is already a bishop — Jesuit Cardinal Michael Czerny is a recent exception — but usually only elderly priest theologians join the college of cardinals. Usually more than 80 years old, they are not invited to papal conclaves.

It does not have to be that way. To begin with, there are three ranks of cardinal: cardinal-deacon, cardinal-priest, cardinal-bishop. Theoretically, at least, a deacon or even a lay man (or woman?) can be named cardinal. The last cardinal-deacon who never became a priest or bishop, Teodolfo Mertel, was a layman when named. Pope Pius IX ordained him a deacon two months after naming him a cardinal. Mertel died in 1899. In 1917, Pope Benedict XV changed the rules, but they can be waived.

Even so, while the Holy Father's closest advisers, the six (down from nine) members of the Council of Cardinals could likely use a boost in membership to replace the three whom he removed — Australian George Pell, Chilean Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, and Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of the Democratic Republic of Congo — don't expect a deacon's voice at the table. And for sure don't expect a woman.

While the coming realignment of the Curia may bring job openings for women, it is unlikely a new dicastery head who happens to be female would be named cardinal. If they survive the changes, a few curial offices — the Congregations for Catholic Education and Causes of the Saints, as well as the Pontifical Council for Culture for example — do not need to be headed by priests or bishops. Now run by cardinals whose terms of service or retirement ages are past due, these could be headed by women.

What difference does it make? Cardinal Cristóbal López of Rabat, Morocco, said not long ago that membership in the College of Cardinals does not amount to much and offered to trade away his status.

"I give my cardinal's zucchetto, my cardinal's ring and my red cassock to the woman who wants to wear them because this gives her an illusion," he said, as two other cardinals, Juan José Omella of Barcelona, Spain, and Pedro Barreto of Huancayo, Peru, smiled in agreement.