Cardinal protodeacon

The **Cardinal protodeacon** is the most senior cardinal of the diaconal order, an order of four Roman deacons who assist the Holy Father in his duties as Bishop of Rome. If several cardinals have the same seniority, priority falls to the prelate named first on the list of cardinals created at the consistory.

Since October 28, 2024, the Cardinal Protodeacon has been Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, created cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of February 14, 2015.

## Duties

The cardinal protodeacon, if he is an elector, has the task of announcing the election of the new pope by reciting the famous formula "Habemus Papam" Otherwise, this task is performed by the first of the cardinal deacon electors.

Furthermore, the Cardinal Protodeacon imposes the pallium on the newly elected Pope during the Eucharistic celebration of the inauguration of the papal ministry; he presents the metropolitans who are to receive the pallium from the Pope during the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29); and he announces the granting of the plenary indulgence when the Pope imparts the Urbi et Orbi blessing at Christmas and Easter.

In these functions, the Cardinal Protodeacon, in case of absence or impediment, is replaced by the second in precedence Cardinal Deacon, who is currently Mario Zenari, since October 28, 2024.

## Cardinal protodeacons

- Giuseppe Pecci, S.J. (20 December 1887 – 8 February 1890)
- John Henry Newman, C.O. (8 February 1890 – 11 August 1890)
- Joseph Hergenröther (11 August 1890 – 3 October 1890)
- Tommaso Maria Zigliara, O.P. (3 October 1890 – 1 June 1891)
- Isidoro Verga (1 June 1891 – 22 June 1896)
- Luigi Macchi (22 June 1896 – 29 March 1907); announced election of Pope Pius X (1903)
- Andreas Steinhuber, S.J. (29 March 1907 – 15 October 1907)
- Francesco Segna (15 October 1907 – 4 January 1911)
- Francesco Salesio Della Volpe (4 January 1911 – 5 November 1916 (his death)); announced election of Pope Benedict XV (1914)
- Gaetano Bisleti (5 November 1916 – 17 December 1928); announced election of Pope Pius XI (1922)
- Camillo Laurenti (17 December 1928 – 16 December 1935)
- Camillo Caccia-Dominioni (16 December 1935 – 12 November 1946 (his death)); announced election of Pope Pius XII (1939)
- Nicola Canali (12 November 1946 – 3 August 1961 (his death)); announced election of Pope John XXIII (1958)
- Alfredo Ottaviani (3 August 1961 – 26 June 1967); announced election of Pope Paul VI (1963)
- Arcadio Larraona Saralegui, CMF (26 June 1967 – 28 April 1969)
- William Theodore Heard (28 April 1969 – 18 May 1970)
- Antonio Bacci (18 May 1970 – 20 January 1971 (his death))
- Michael Browne, OP (20 January 1971 – 31 March 1971 (his death))
- Federico Callori di Vignale (31 March 1971 – 8 August 1971†)
- Charles Journet (8 August 1971 – 5 March 1973)
- Pericle Felici (5 March 1973 – 30 June 1979); announced elections of Pope John Paul I (1978) and Pope John Paul II (1978)
- Sergio Pignedoli (30 June 1979 – 15 June 1980 (his death))
- Umberto Mozzoni (15 June 1980 – 2 February 1983)
- Opilio Rossi (2 February 1983 – 22 June 1987)
- Giuseppe Caprio (22 June 1987 – 26 November 1990)
- Aurelio Sabattani (26 November 1990 – 5 April 1993)
- Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy (5 April 1993 – 29 January 1996)
- Eduardo Martínez Somalo (29 January 1996 – 9 January 1999)
- Pio Laghi (9 January 1999 – 26 February 2002)
- Luigi Poggi (26 February 2002 – 24 February 2005)
- Jorge Medina (24 February 2005 – 23 February 2007); announced election of Pope Benedict XVI (2005)
- Darío Castrillón Hoyos (23 February 2007 – 1 March 2008)
- Agostino Cacciavillan (1 March 2008 – 21 February 2011)
- Jean-Louis Tauran (21 February 2011 – 12 June 2014); announced election of Pope Francis (2013)
- Renato Raffaele Martino (12 June 2014 – 28 October 2024 (his death))
- Dominique Mamberti (28 October 2024 – present); announced election of Pope Leo XIV (2025)

## Infobox (official post)

- **post**: Protodeacon
- **body**: the Holy Roman Church
- **insignia**: Coat of arms of Dominique Mamberti.svg
- **insigniacaption**: Coat of arms of Dominique Mamberti, Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal Protodeacon
- **image**: Dominique Mamberti, 14 Dec 2010.jpg
- **incumbent**: Dominique Mamberti
- **incumbentsince**: 28 October 2024
- **department**: Papal household
- **style**: His Eminence
- **member of**: Roman Curia
Council of Cardinal Advisers, Council of Cardinals
- **reports to**: Pope, The Pope
- **appointer**: The Pope
- **termlength**: Appointment of a new Pope
- **formation**: 1147
- **first**: Giuseppe Pecci
- **deputy**: Second deacon