camerlengo

[ kam-er-leng-goh ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural cam·er·len·gos.

1. the cardinal appointed treasurer of the Holy See, who, upon the death of the pope, presides over the conclave that elects the new pope.

camerlengo

/ ˌkæməˈlɛŋɡəʊ; ˌkæməˈlɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. RC Church a cardinal who acts as the pope's financial secretary and the papal treasurer

Word History and Origins

Origin of camerlengo¹

1615–25; < Italian camerlingo < Germanic; akin to Old High German chamarlinc chamberlain

Word History and Origins

Origin of camerlengo¹

C17: from Italian camerlingo, of Germanic origin; compare chamberlain

Example Sentences

Pagano said that after Pope Benedict XV died, the camerlengo — the cardinal in charge of the papal treasury and accounts — went to his safe and discovered it was “literally empty. There wasn’t a paper, bank note or coin.”

From Seattle Times

After the death of a reigning pope, the person in charge of ordinary affairs at the Vatican until the election of a new pope is the camerlengo, or chamberlain.

From Reuters

The person who runs the Vatican from the death of one pope to the election of another is called a "camerlengo", currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

From BBC

Normally, the camerlengo has the role of officially confirming the pope's death, traditionally by tapping his head three times with a small silver hammer and calling out his name.

From BBC

As Francis is already Pope, there is considerable uncertainty about what the camerlengo will do.

From BBC