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camerlengo

American  
[kam-er-leng-goh] / ˌkæm ərˈlɛŋ goʊ /

noun

Roman Catholic Church.
camerlengos plural
  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 British  
/ ˌkæməˈlɛŋɡəʊ, ˌkæməˈlɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of camerlengo

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

No cause of death was announced in a statement released by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo who will lead the church until a new pope is named.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 21, 2025

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 Dec. 30, 2022

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 Dec. 29, 2022

During that period, known as the “sede vacante,” or “empty See,” the camerlengo, or chamberlain, runs the administration and finances of the Holy See.

From Seattle Times Jul. 6, 2021

After all, Ugolini was cardinal camerlengo under Urban.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Shea, Robert

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