View source for Dean of the College of Cardinals

{{Short description|Position in the Catholic Church}}

[[File:Card. Re WIKIPEDIA.png|thumb|220px|[[Giovanni Battista Re]], the incumbent dean]]

The '''dean of the College of Cardinals''' ({{langx|la|Decanus Collegii Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalium}}) presides over the [[College of Cardinals]] in the [[Catholic Church]], serving as {{lang|la|[[primus inter pares]]}} ('first among equals'). The position was established [[christianity in the 12th century|in the 12th century]]. He always holds the rank of a [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal bishop]] and is assisted by a vice-dean. Both are elected by and from the cardinal bishops who are not Eastern Catholic patriarchs, with their election subject to [[papal]] confirmation. Except for presiding over the college, the dean and vice-dean have no power over the other cardinals. 

For centuries, the cardinal bishop who had been a bishop of a [[Suburbicarian diocese|suburbicarian see]] the longest was the dean. This custom became a requirement with the [[canon law (Catholic Church)|canon law]] of 1917.<ref name=commentary>{{cite book |access-date=2 January 2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKgZEjvB5cEC&pg=PA470 |page=470 |title=New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law |date=2000 |publisher=Paulist Press |isbn=978-0-8091-4066-4 |editor-first1=James A.|editor-last1=Coriden |editor-first2=John P. |editor-last2=Beal |editor-first3=Thomas Joseph |editor-last3=Green |quote=Paul VI changed the former provision whereby the dean was automatically the cardinal who had been cardinal bishop the longest.}}</ref><ref name=canon237>{{cite book |access-date=22 December 2019 |language=la |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-09-II-1917-ocr.pdf |date=1917 |volume=IX, part II |page=50, Canon 237 |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis}}</ref>{{efn|Quote: "Sacro Cardinalium Collegio praeest Decanus, idest antiquior promotione ad aliquam Sedem suburbicariam, cui tamen nulla est in ceteros Cardinales iurisdictio, sed ipse primus habetur inter aequales."<ref name=canon237/> Translation: "The Sacred College of Cardinals is presided over by a Dean, that one who is senior by promotion to any suburbicarian See, who, however, has no jurisdiction over the other Cardinals, but he is held first among equals."}} On 26 February 1965, [[Pope Paul VI]] empowered the cardinal bishops to elect the dean from among their number.<ref>{{cite web |language=it |access-date=2 January 2024 |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/it/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19650226_sacro-cardinalium.html |title=Sacro Cardinalium Consilio: Elezione del Decano e del Subdecano del Collegio Cardinalizio |date=26 February 1965 |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana}}</ref>{{efn|For the remainder of Paul VI's papacy, the cardinal bishops followed tradition and elected as dean the cardinal who had been a cardinal bishop the longest.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} When [[Agnelo Rossi]] was elected dean in 1984, he had been a cardinal bishop for just two and a half years, less than three other cardinal bishops: [[Sebastiano Baggio]], [[Paolo Bertoli]], [[Francesco Carpino]].}} Both the dean and subdean must reside in Rome.<ref name=commentary/>

Until December 2019, the dean held the position until death or resignation; there was no mandatory age of retirement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wooden |first1=Cindy |title=Pope sets term of office for dean of College of Cardinals |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-sets-term-office-dean-college-cardinals |website=ncronline.org |date=22 December 2019 |publisher=The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company |access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref> Then, upon accepting Cardinal [[Angelo Sodano]]'s resignation as dean of the College of Cardinals, [[Pope Francis]] established that the dean would henceforth serve a five-year term that may be renewed once.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 November 2019 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/12/21/191221b.html |title=A Letter in the form of a "Motu Proprio" regarding the Office of Dean of the College of Cardinals |access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |access-date=22 December 2019 |url=https://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Catholicisme/Pape/Demission-cardinal-Sodano-doyen-Sacre-College-2019-12-21-1201067900 |language=fr |title=Démission d'Angelo Sodano, doyen des cardinaux |publisher=La Croix |date=21 December 2019 |first=Nicolas |last=Senèze}}</ref> In anticipation of the election of a new dean, Francis said: "I am hoping they will elect someone who can carry this important responsibility full time."<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=21 December 2019 |date=21 December 2019 |title=Audience of the Holy Father to the Roman Curia on the occasion of the presentation of Christmas wishes |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/12/21/191221c.html}}</ref> Nevertheless, on 6 February 2025, the Pope extended indefinitely Cardinal Re's mandate as dean.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2025 |title=Francis extends cardinal dean's term |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/francis-extends-cardinal-deans-term |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=pillarcatholic.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Responsibilities ==
{{Catholic Church hierarchy sidebar}}
{{Vatican City sidebar}}

The dean summons the [[Papal conclave|conclave]] for the purposes of electing a new [[pope]] following a death or [[papal resignation|resignation]]. The Dean presides over the daily meetings of the College of Cardinals in advance of the conclave and then presides over the conclave unless his age prohibits his participation. 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".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html |title=Universi Dominici Gregis, art. 19 |author-link=Pope John Paul II |date=22 February 1996 |access-date=8 October 2007 |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506074146/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html |archive-date=6 May 2007}}</ref> He is the public face of the Holy See until a new pope is elected. If he participates in the conclave, the dean asks the pope-elect if he accepts the election, and then asks the new pope what name he wishes to use. If the dean himself is elected pope, the aforementioned tasks are assumed by the sub-dean of the College of Cardinals. If the newly elected pope is not already a [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]], the dean [[Holy Orders|ordains]] him a bishop.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=21 December 2019 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P19.HTM |title= Canon 355, section 1}}</ref>

The dean has "the [[titular bishop|title]] of the [[Bishop of Ostia|diocese of Ostia]], together with that of any other church to which he already has a title,"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P19.HTM |access-date=21 December 2019 |title=Canon 350, section 4}}</ref> such as his [[suburbicarian diocese]]. This has been the case since 1914, by decree of [[Pope Pius X]] – previous deans had given up their suburbicarian see and taken the joint title of Ostia and Velletri, which were separated in that same 1914 decree.<ref>{{cite book |access-date=21 December 2019 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-06-1914-ocr.pdf |language=la |date=1914 |volume=VI |pages=219–220 |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis}}</ref>

== Deans elected pope ==
Nine Deans have been elected pope:<ref>For the first half of 12th century the source is Rudolf Hüls, ''Kardinäle, Klerus und Kirchen Roms: 1049–1130'', Tübingen 1977, p. 84, for the rest the respective [https://cardinals.fiu.edu/consistories.htm biographical entries] by S. Miranda, with corrections appearing from J.M. Brixius, ''Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130–1181'', Berlin 1912; Werner Maleczek, ''Papst und Kardinalskolleg von 1191 bis 1216'', Vienna 1984; [[Agostino Paravicini Bagliani]], ''Cardinali di curia e "familiae" cardinalizie dal 1227 al 1254'', Padova 1972; and Richard Sternfeld, ''Der Kardinal Johann Gaetan Orsini (Papst Nikolaus III) 1244–1277'', Berlin 1905, for 12–13th centuries.</ref> 
# [[Pope Anastasius IV|Corrado Demitri]], elected [[Pope Anastasius IV]] in [[1153 papal election|1153]]
# [[Pope Lucius III|Ubaldo Allucingoli]], elected [[Pope Lucius III]] in [[1181 papal election|1181]]
# [[Pope Gregory IX|Ugolino di Conti]] was elected [[Pope Gregory IX]] in [[1227 papal election|1227]] 
# [[Pope Alexander IV|Rinaldo di Jenne]] was elected [[Pope Alexander IV]] in [[1254 papal election|1254]]
# [[Pope John XXI|Pedro Julião]] was elected [[Pope John XXI]] in [[September 1276 papal election|September 1276]]
# [[Rodrigo Borgia]] was elected [[Pope Alexander VI]] in [[1492 papal conclave|1492]] 
# [[Pope Paul III|Alessandro Farnese]] was elected [[Pope Paul III]] in [[1534 papal conclave|1534]]
# [[Gian Pietro Carafa]] was elected [[Pope Paul IV]] in [[May 1555 papal conclave|May 1555]]
# [[Joseph Ratzinger]] was elected [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in [[2005 papal conclave|2005]]

== List of deans ==
{{More citations needed|list|date=September 2014}}

The following is the list of deans of the Sacred College of Cardinals, separated into three groups to account for the [[Western Schism]], which ended after the [[Council of Constance]]. The earliest attested reference to the "College of Cardinals" is at the Council of Reims in 1148.<ref>John F. Broderick, S.J., "The Sacred College of Cardinals: Size and Geographical Composition (1099–1986)," ''Archivum Historiae Pontificiae'', Vol. 25 (1987), pp. 7–71, at p. 9 note 6. And see: Edith Pasztor, "Riforma della chiesa nel secolo XI e l'origine del Collegio dei Cardinali: Problemi e ricerche," in: ''Studio sul Medioevo cristiano offerti a Raffaello Morghen'', II, (Roma 1974), pp. 609-625, arguing that the College of Cardinals did not yet exist at the end of the 11th century. Without the existence of the College, of course, a Dean of the College of Cardinals would be impossible.</ref>

Each name in the following list includes years of birth and death, then comma-separated years of cardinalate and deanship.

=== Before the Western Schism ===
==== 12th century ====
* [[Pietro Senex]] (d. 1134) (1102, before 1130)<ref>According to Pandulphus Pisanus, "Vita Gelasii II", in: J. Watterich, ''Pontificum Romanorum Vitae'' Tomus II (Lipsiae 1862) p. 94: "Interim autem, Paschali papa defuncto, venerabilis pater dominus Petrus Portuensis episcopus, qui primatum post papam per longa jam diutius tempora detinuerat, cumque eo omnes presbyteri ac diaconi cardinales de eligendo Pontifice, et in commune communiter, et singulariter singuli pertractare coeperunt pro domino cancellario in monasterio Cassinensi commanente". Cardinal Pietro led the electoral meeting in 1118. He joined the obedience of [[Antipope Anacletus II]] in 1130.</ref>{{disputed inline|date=July 2018}}
* [[Guillaume (bishop of Palestrina)|Guillaume]] (d. 1137/1139) (1122, 1130){{citation needed|date=November 2017}}{{disputed inline|date=July 2018}}
* [[Pope Anastasius IV|Corrado della Suburra]] (1073–1154) (1114, 1137/1139)<br />''Elected [[Pope Anastasius IV]] in 1153''{{disputed inline|date=July 2018}}
* [[Imar of Tusculum]] (d. 1161) (1142, 1153, deposed 1159<ref>He joined the obedience of [[Antipope Victor IV (1159–1164)|Antipope Victor IV]] in 1159 [https://cardinals.fiu.edu/conclave-xii.htm#1159A] .</ref>){{disputed inline|date=July 2018}}
* [[Gregorio de Suburra]] (d. 1163) (1140, 1159){{disputed inline|date=July 2018}}
* [[Pope Lucius III|Ubaldo Allucingoli]] (1097–1185) (1138, 1163) <br> ''Elected [[Pope Lucius III]] in 1181''
* [[Conrad of Wittelsbach]] (1120/1125–1200) (1165, 1181)

==== 13th century ====
* [[Ottaviano di Paoli]] (d. 1206) (1182, 1200)
* [[Pietro Gallocia]] (d. 1211) (1188, 1206)
* [[Nicola de Romanis]] (d. 1219) (1204, 1211)
* [[Pope Gregory IX|Ugolino dei Conti di Segni]] (1145–1241) (1198, 1219)<br />''Elected [[Pope Gregory IX]] in 1227''
* [[Pelagio Galvani]] (d. 1230) (1206/1207, 1227)
* [[Jean Halgrin]] (1180–1237) (1227, 1230)
* [[Jacques de Vitry]] (1160/70–1240) (1228, 1237)
* [[Pope Alexander IV|Rinaldo Conti]] (1185–1261) (1227, 1240)<br />''Elected [[Pope Alexander IV]] in 1254''
* [[Odo of Châteauroux]] (1190–1273) (1244, 1254)
* [[John of Toledo]] (d. 1275) (1244, 1273)
* [[Pope John XXI|João Pedro Julião]] (1210–1276) (1273, 1275)<br />''Elected [[Pope John XXI]] in 1276''
* [[Bertrand de Saint-Martin]] (d. 1277) (1273, 1276)
* [[Ordonho Alvares]] (1198–1285) (1278, 1278)
* [[Bentivenga dei Bentivenghi]] (1230–1289) (1278, 1285)
* [[Latino Malabranca Orsini]] (d. 1294) (1278, 1289)
* [[Gerardo Bianchi]] (1220/1225–1302) (1278, 1294)

==== 14th century ====
* [[Giovanni Boccamazza]] (d. 1309) (1285, 1302)
* [[Leonardo Patrasso]] (1230–1311) (1300, 1309)
* [[Giovanni Minio de Murovalle]] (1250–1312) (1302, 1311)
* [[Nicolò Albertini]] (1250–1321) (1303, 1312)
* [[Berengar Fredol the Elder]] (1250–1323) (1305, 1321)
* [[Berengar Fredol the Younger]] (d. 1323) (1312, 1323)
* [[Guillaume Godin]] (1260–1336) (1312, 1323)
* [[Pierre Desprès]] (1288–1361) (1320, 1336)
* [[Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord, Bishop of Auxerre|Élie de Talleyrand-Périgord]] (1301–1364) (1331, 1361)
* [[Guy de Boulogne]] (1313–1373) (1342, 1364)
* [[Ange de Grimoard]] (1315/20-1388) (1366, 1373, deposed by Urban VI in 1378, reappointed to the  post in the obedience of Avignon until 1388)

=== During the Western Schism ===
{{Main|Avignon Papacy|Council of Pisa}}

{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
'''The obedience of Rome (1378–1415)'''
* [[Tommaso da Frignano]] (1305–1381) (1378)
* [[Francesco Moricotti Prignano]] (d. 1394) (1378, 1381)
* [[Felipe de Alençon|Philippe d'Alençon]] (1338–1397) (1378, 1394)
* [[Pietro Pileo di Prata]] (1330–1400) (1378, 1397)<ref>He was the only cardinal-bishop in the Roman obedience after 1397.</ref>
* [[Angelo II Acciaioli|Angelo Acciaioli]] (1349–1408) (1384, 1405)
* [[Enrico Minutoli]] (d. 1412) (1389, 1408)
* [[Antonio Correr (cardinal)|Antonio Correr]] (1369–1445) (1408, 1409 until 1415)

{{col-3}}
'''The obedience of Avignon (1378–1429)'''
* Ange de Grimoard (until 1388)
* [[Pietro Corsini]] (1335–1405) (1370, 1388)
* [[Gui de Malsec]] (d. 1412) (1375, 1405, deposed 1409, retained the post in the obedience of Pisa)
* [[Jean Flandrin]] (after 1301–1415) (1390, 1405)
* [[Julián Lobera y Valtierra]] (d. 1435) (1423, 1423 until 1429)

{{col-3}}
'''The obedience of Pisa (1409–1415)'''
* Gui de Malsec (until 1412)
* [[Jean Allarmet de Brogny]] (1342–1426) (1385, 1412 until 1415)
{{col-end}}

=== After the Council of Constance ===
==== 15th century ====
* [[Angelo Correr]] (c. 1330–1417) (1415, 1415)<ref>Former [[Pope Gregory XII]] of the Roman obedience</ref>
* [[Jean-Allarmet de Brogny]] (1342–1426) (1385, 1417)
* [[Baldassare Cossa]] (c. 1360/1370–1419) (1419, 1419)<ref>Former Pisan [[Antipope John XXIII]]</ref>
* [[Jean Allarmet de Brogny]] ''(2nd term)'' (1342–1426) (1385, 1419)
* [[Angelo d'Anna de Sommariva]] (d. 1428) (1384, 1426)
* [[Giordano Orsini (died 1438)|Giordano Orsini]] (1360/1370–1438) (1405, 1428)
* Antonio Correr ''(again)'' (1369–1445) (1408, 1438)
* [[Giovanni Berardi]] (1380–1449) (1439, 1445)<ref>Although [[Pierre de Foix, le vieux|Pierre de Foix]], bishop of Albano, was the most senior Cardinal-Bishop 1445–1464, he was omitted in filling the post of Dean of the Sacred College, because he resided outside the Roman Curia</ref>
* [[Antipope Felix V|Amedeo di Savoia]] (1383–1451) (1449, 1449)<ref>Former [[Antipope Felix V]], Cardinal-bishop of Sabina</ref>
* [[Francesco Condulmer]] (1390–1453) (1431, 1451)<ref>This cardinal is not referred to as dean by S. Miranda but his occupation of that post appears from the order of seniority</ref>
* [[Giorgio Fieschi]] (c. 1395–1461) (1439, 1453)
* [[Isidore of Kiev]] (1380/1390–1463) (1439, 1461)
* [[Basilios Bessarion]] (1403–1472) (1439, 1463)
* [[Guillaume d'Estouteville]] (1403–1483) (1439, 1472)
* [[Pope Alexander VI|Rodrigo Borgia]] (1431–1503) (1456, 1483) <br />''Elected [[Pope Alexander VI]] in 1492''
* [[Oliviero Carafa]] (1430–1511) (1467, 1492)<ref>He opted for the see of Ostia e Velletri in November 1503. From that time deans of the College of Cardinals usually opted for that see immediately after assuming that post, although few exceptions to this rule had occurred.</ref>

==== 16th century ====
* [[Raffaele Riario]] (1461–1521) (1477, 1511)
* [[Bernardino Lopez de Carvajal]] (1456–1523) (1493, 1521)
* [[Francesco Soderini]] (1453–1524) (1503, 1523)
* [[Niccolò Fieschi]] (1456–1524) (1503, 1524)
* [[Pope Paul III|Alessandro Farnese]] (1468–1549) (1493, 1524)<br />''Elected [[Pope Paul III]] in 1534''
* [[Giovanni Piccolomini]] (1475–1537) (1517, 1535)
* [[Giovanni Domenico de Cupis]] (1493–1553) (1517, 1537)
* [[Pope Paul IV|Gian Pietro Carafa]] (1476–1559) (1536, 1553)<br />''Elected [[Pope Paul IV]] in 1555''
* [[Jean du Bellay]] (1492–1560) (1535, 1555)
* [[François de Tournon]] (1489–1562) (1530, 1560)
* [[Rodolfo Pio de Carpi]] (1500–1564) (1536, 1562)
* [[Francesco Pisani]] (1494–1570) (1517, 1564)
* [[Giovanni Girolamo Morone]] (1509–1580) (1542, 1570)
* [[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Alessandro Farnese]], juniore (1520–1589) (1534, 1580)
* [[Giovanni Antonio Serbelloni]] (1519–1591) (1560, 1589)
* [[Alfonso Gesualdo]] (1540–1603) (1561, 1591)

==== 17th century ====
* [[Tolomeo Gallio]] (1526–1607) (1565, 1603)
* [[Domenico Pinelli]] (1541–1611) (1585, 1607)
* [[Francois de Joyeuse]] (1562–1615) (1583, 1611)
* [[Antonio Maria Galli]] (1553–1620) (1586, 1615)
* [[Antonio Maria Sauli]] (1541–1623) (1587, 1620)
* [[Francesco Maria del Monte]] (1549–1626) (1588, 1623)
* [[Ottavio Bandini]] (1558–1629) (1596, 1626)
* [[Giovanni Battista Deti]] (1576–1630) (1599, 1629)
* [[Cardinal Domenico Ginnasi|Domenico Ginnasi]] (1550–1639) (1604, 1630)
* [[Carlo Emmanuele Pio de Savoia]], seniore (1585–1641) (1604, 1639)
* [[Marcello Lante della Rovere]] (1561–1652) (1606, 1641)
* [[Giulio Roma]] (1584–1652) (1621, 1652) ''served less than 5 months''
* [[Carlo de' Medici (1595–1666)]] (1615, 1652)
* [[Francesco Barberini (seniore)|Francesco Barberini]], seniore (1597–1679) (1623, 1666)
* [[Cesare Facchinetti]] (1608–1683) (1643, 1680)
* [[Niccolò Albergati-Ludovisi]] (1608–1687) (1645, 1683)
* [[Alderano Cybo]] (1613–1700) (1645, 1687)

==== 18th century ====
* [[Cardinal de Bouillon|Emmanuel–Theodose de Bouillon]] (1643–1715) (1669, 1700)
* [[Nicolò Acciaioli (cardinal)|Nicolò Acciaioli]] (1630–1719) (1669, 1715)
* [[Fulvio Astalli]] (1655–1721) (1686, 1719)
* [[Sebastiano Antonio Tanara]] (1650–1724) (1695, 1721)
* [[Francesco del Giudice]] (1647–1725) (1690, 1724)
* [[Fabrizio Paolucci]] (1651–1726) (1697, 1725)
* [[Francesco Pignatelli]] (1652–1734) (1703, 1726)<ref>Cardinal-bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina. According to L. Pastor "History of the Popes vol. XXXIV", London 1941, p. 303 and [http://www.pickle-publishing.com/papers/triple-crown-clement-xii.htm Valérie Pirie "The Triple Crown: An Account of the Papal Conclaves"] he was Dean of the Sacred College in the [[Papal conclave, 1730]]. Also G. Moroni, ''Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica da S. Pietro sino ai nostri giorni'', vol. X, p. 15, affirms that he was dean of the Sacred College but never opted for the see of Ostia e Velletri.</ref>
* [[Francesco Barberini (1662–1738)|Francesco Barberini]] (1662–1738) (1690, 1734)
* [[Pietro Ottoboni (cardinal)|Pietro Ottoboni]] (1667–1740) (1689, 1738)
* [[Tommaso Ruffo]] (1663–1753) (1706, 1740)
* [[Pier Luigi Carafa (1677–1755)|Pier Luigi Carafa]] (1677–1755) (1728, 1753)
* [[Rainiero d'Elci]] (1670–1761) (1737, 1755)
* [[Giuseppe Spinelli (cardinal)|Giuseppe Spinelli]] (1694–1763) (1735, 1761)
* [[Carlo Alberto Guidoboni Cavalchini]] (1683–1774) (1743, 1763)
* [[Gian Francesco Albani]] (1720–1803) (1747, 1774)<ref>Salvador Miranda indicates that [[Fabrizio Serbelloni]] was dean of the Sacred College 1774–1775 [https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1753.htm#Serbelloni], but according to G. Moroni, ''Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica da S. Pietro sino ai nostri giorn vol. LXIV'', p. 173, Serbelloni was named bishop of Ostia e Velletri on 18 April 1774 only for that reason, that Albani, who became dean at the death of Cavalchini, refused to resign the bishopric of Porto e Santa Rufina. However, Cardinal Albani eventually opted for the see of Ostia e Velletri after the death of Serbelloni in the following year</ref> ''longest deanship''

==== 19th century ====
* [[Henry Benedict Stuart]] (1725–1807) (1747, 1803) ''longest total cardinalate''
* [[Leonardo Antonelli]] (1730–1811) (1775, 1807)
* [[Alessandro Mattei]] (1744–1820) (1779, 1814) ''vacancy caused by his exile by Napoleon''
* [[Giulio Maria della Somaglia]] (1744–1830) (1795, 1820)
* [[Bartolomeo Pacca]] (1756–1844) (1801, 1830)
* [[Ludovico Micara]] (1775–1847) (1824, 1844)
* [[Vincenzo Macchi]] (1770–1860) (1826, 1847)
* [[Mario Mattei]] (1792–1870) (1832, 1860)
* [[Costantino Patrizi Naro]] (1798–1876) (1834, 1870)
* [[Luigi Amat di San Filippo e Sorso]] (1796–1878) (1837, 1877)
* [[Camillo di Pietro]] (1806–1884) (1853, 1878)
* [[Carlo Sacconi]] (1808–1889) (1861, 1884)
* [[Raffaele Monaco La Valletta]] (1827–1896) (1868, 1889)
* [[Luigi Oreglia di Santo Stefano]] (1828–1913) (1873, 1896)

==== 20th century ====
* [[Serafino Vannutelli]] (1834–1915) (1887, 1913)
* [[Vincenzo Vannutelli]] (1836–1930) (1889, 1915)
* [[Gennaro di Belmonte]] (1851–1948) (1911, 1930)
* [[Francesco Marchetti-Selvaggiani]] (1871–1951) (1930, 1948)
* [[Eugène Tisserant]] (1884–1972) (1936, 1951)
* [[Amleto Giovanni Cicognani]] (1883–1973) (1958, 1972)
* [[Luigi Traglia]] (1895–1977) (1960, 1974)
* [[Carlo Confalonieri]] (1893–1986) (1958, 1977)
* [[Agnelo Rossi]] (1913–1995) (1965, 1986)
* [[Bernardin Gantin]] (1922–2008) (1977, 1993, retired 2002)

==== 21st century ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2|Image
! rowspan=2|Name of Incumbent
! colspan=2|Life dates
! rowspan=2|Cardinalate
! rowspan=2|Deanship
! rowspan=2|Notes
|-
! Birth
! Death and age
|-
|[[File:Joseph Ratzinger.jpg|90px]]||[[Pope Benedict XVI|Joseph Ratzinger]]||16 April 1927||{{death date and age|2022|12|31|1927|4|16|df=yes}}||27 June 1977<br />by [[Pope Paul VI]]||30 November 2002 &ndash; [[2005 papal conclave|16 April 2005]]<br />{{small|({{ayd|2002|11|20|2005|4|16}})}}|| Elected [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in [[Papal Conclave, 2005|2005]]<br>Retired in 2013 as pope
|-
|[[File:Angelo Cardinal Sodano in 2016 (cropped).jpg|90px]]||[[Angelo Sodano]]||23 November 1927||{{death date and age|2022|5|27|1927|11|23|df=yes}}||28 June 1991<br />by [[Pope John Paul II]]||30 April 2005 &ndash; 21 December 2019<br /> ({{ayd|2005|04|30|2019|12|21}})|| Retired in 2019 
|-
|[[File:Card. Re WIKIPEDIA.png|90px]]||[[Giovanni Battista Re]]|| {{birth date and age|1934|1|30|df=yes}}|| ||21 February 2001<br />by Pope John Paul II|| 18 January 2020 &ndash; present ({{ayd|2020|1|18}})|| Elected to a five-year term, renewable once
|-
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Dean of Cardinals}}
{{Holy See}}

[[Category:Deans of the College of Cardinals| ]]
[[Category:Cardinal-bishops of Ostia| ]]
[[Category:Religious leadership roles]]
[[Category:College of Cardinals|*1]]