Cardinal Vicar
The Cardinal Vicar ( Italian: Cardinale Vicario ), officially Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome (Latin: Vicar Generalis dioecesis Romanae, Italian: Vicario Generale di Sua Santita per la Diocese di Roma) is the one with the spiritual, pastoral and administrative line of the diocese of Rome commissioned representative of the Pope in his capacity as Bishop of Rome. In general, this ministry is exercised by a Cardinal; is the incumbent (still) not a cardinal, he is Pro- Vicar General of His Holiness called.
Seen canon law, the Cardinal Vicar is an appointee for the Diocese of Rome Bishop who has the powers of a vicar general and is in the rank of cardinal. The Pope thus remains as Bishop of Rome de jure local Ordinary in Rome, effectively denies the pope but because of the extensive responsibilities for the universal Church only very little influence on the governance of the diocese of Rome, so that the Office of the Cardinal Vicar very extensive powers were conferred and most of the decisions regarding the church in Rome to be hit by this.
Under the provisions of Pope Paul VI. possessed Apostolic Constitution Vicariae potestatis in urbe No. 2 § 1 of January 6, 1977 remains the Cardinal Vicar, even after the death of the Pope in office. This scheme was approved by Pope John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis 22 February 1996. Order to ensure continuity of management of the Diocese of Rome will be available throughout the period of vacancy, by the Cardinal Vicar kind of " Diocesan Administrator" the diocese continues to be managed, while according to the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus (Art. 6 ) of 28 June 1988, the head of the departments of the Roman Curia must resign from the performance of their duties.
Excluded from the jurisdiction of the Cardinal Vicar is since the conclusion of the Lateran Treaty in 1929, the Vatican City, for which the Office of the Vicar General of His Holiness has been newly created for the Vatican City, although the territory of the Vatican City to the territory of the Diocese of Rome belongs. But this, the Cardinal Vicar has the function of " Apostolic Administrator " for the diocese of Ostia after the diocesan area of Ostia since Pius XII. is also managed by the Vicariate of Rome.
In general, the Office of the Cardinal Vicar is the same with that of the Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Episcopal Church of Rome, and linked to the Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University. Seat of the Cardinal Vicar and the Vicariate of Rome since Pope John XXIII. at the Lateran Basilica in the Lateran Palace.
Current Cardinal Vicar is Agostino Vallini since 2008.