camerlengo

American  

[kam-er-leng-goh] / ˌkæm ərˈlɛŋ goʊ /

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

plural

camerlengos

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

---

Etymology

Origin of camerlengo

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

Example Sentences

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

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

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2022

The camerlengo has no role or duties if the pope is merely sick or otherwise incapacitated.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2021

In the film version of Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons,” the most memorable scene features the pope’s camerlengo, or right-hand man, hijacking a helicopter from St. Peter’s Square, along with, implausibly, a vessel containing antimatter.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2020

As cardinal camerlengo, the pope's chamberlain, you could bring before the pope a traveler from far away whose testimony might influence his decisions about the Tartars.

From The Saracen: Land of the Infidel by Shea, Robert