In full: cardinal camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church (Show more) Camerlengo also called: chamberlain (Show more) cardinal camerlengo, in Roman Catholicism, one of the cardinals and key prelates of the Vatican who is appointed by the pope and is tasked with a specific series of functions in the crucial time of transition from one pope to his successor, including verifying the vacating pope’s death. The role of the cardinal camerlengo has evolved over centuries, shifting from a fiscal administrator to a figure whose duties in the period after a pope dies or resigns have come to fascinate the public. The cardinal camerlengo is a position different from the camerlengo of the Roman clergy, an honorary position ...(100 of 1661 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!