The short answer is that the Catholic sources you provided do not contain direct evidence about papal interviews with cardinals (e.g., whether popes historically “interview” cardinals in the way journalists do, or specific instances of such interviews). What the sources do document is a strong papal precedent for dialogue and conversation with representatives of communication/media, along with a concern for discretion and for speaking within the Church’s spiritual purpose—principles that are relevant, but not the same thing as “interviews with cardinals.”1 2 3

1) What you asked vs. what the provided evidence shows

Your question (historical precedent)

You are asking for historical precedent for papal interviews with cardinals—that is, a specific kind of interaction between the Pope and cardinals, framed as an “interview.”

What the provided sources actually cover

Across the documents you supplied, the relevant concrete interactions are mainly:

• popes speaking to press/journalists and describing the Church’s communications practices,4 5 6 7
• popes emphasizing dialogue as characteristic of apostolic ministry,1 2
• popes stressing the need for truthfulness, objectivity, and appropriate discretion in public communication.8 5 3

None of these documents explicitly describe an historical pattern of popes interviewing cardinals.

2) The strongest “adjacent” precedent in your sources: papal dialogue and consultation as a method

Even though the sources don’t specifically discuss cardinals-as-interviewees, they do supply a framework for how popes understand dialogue as part of ministry.

Dialogue as an apostolic method

Pope Paul VI describes apostolic work as essentially a “dialogue,” linking it to the Council’s pastoral orientation and the need to “approach” and “speak to” modern people in a way they can understand.1 This supports the general idea that the papacy has historically practiced conversation/engagement rather than monologue.1

Pope Paul VI also describes that “no other course” is open to him if dialogue is to characterize his apostolic ministry.2

Limits and discretion in communications

Paul VI’s remarks about journalism and public discussion include a clear sense that limits are required by “discretion” and the “good of the common,” and that Church decisions should be grounded in the Gospel and living Tradition rather than public opinion.6 Likewise, his remarks to the press emphasize that the Church’s communication must not be distorted by “publicity” or by political interests outside the Pope’s competence.8

These points are relevant to any format of papal “interview,” because they describe a consistent papal concern: engagement must serve truth and the Church’s spiritual mission, not spectacle.8 6

3) What cannot be concluded from your provided sources

Because your provided documents do not mention cardinals being interviewed by the Pope, I cannot responsibly claim:

• that such interviews were historically common,
• that they follow a known, documented tradition,
• or that they are institutionally normal in a way comparable to press interviews.

At most, what can be said is: your sources establish a precedent for papal dialogue and for structured interaction with communicators (journalists/media), not a precedent for papal interviews with cardinals.1 2 3

4) If you want to establish the precedent you’re asking for

Based on the gap in the provided materials, the historically grounded route (using appropriate archival/academic materials) would typically involve checking:

• official acts relating to consistories, audiences, and consultative processes involving cardinals,
• documentation on papal communications that are not press-focused but involve cardinal participation (e.g., summaries of consultations, formal question-and-answer formats, or documented meeting protocols),
• and whether “interview” here means news-media interviews vs. formal questioning/consultation in ecclesial governance.

However, I can’t cite or confirm any of that from the documents you provided.

Conclusion

From the sources you supplied, there is strong precedent for papal dialogue and structured engagement with the press/media, including attention to truth and discretion.8 6 1 2 What is not established in these sources is a historical precedent specifically for papal interviews with cardinals. If you share additional Catholic sources that discuss papal interactions with cardinals in an interview-like format (or define “interview” within Church governance), I can reassess the precedent precisely.