roman catholic clergy

[dunbaranne]

Although the appropriate insignia are red, a member of the Roman Catholic clergy said to be 'raised to the purple' would have achieved what position?

[Whickerman]

I'd imagine a Bishop. They wear purple, as opposed to the red of a Cardinal

[Octavius]

True about their vestments, but the term 'raised to the purple' or 'born to the purple' generally means someone who has elevated above the common people to obtain some sort of peerage.

I am not suggesting that bishops are commoners in this sense, but I am guessing that being raised to the purple in the catholic church means that they are elected to join the college of cardinals, since they are a senior ecclesiastical official in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope.