| EARMARKED | Set aside each religious book penned by cardinal (9) |
| SCLEROTIC | Hardened sinner's opening religious books penned by priest (9) |
| ONTAP | Religious books penned by pensioner readily available |
| PERMISSION | Leave for each religious outpost (10) |
| HUMANE | Sympathetic article penned by cardinal once (6) |
| RHYMED | Short song penned by cardinal was poetic, perhaps? (6) |
| POTBOILER | Work created for a return - book penned by drudge? (9) |
| ADMIRABLE | Praiseworthy book penned by authority at sea with energy (9) |
| GREENBELT | No build-up in this book penned by novelist, left devoid of content |
| ENTANGLED | Books penned by a legend, surprisingly becoming involved (9) |
| GERONTIUS | Oratorio by Edward Elgar to text from a poem by Cardinal Newman (3,5,2,9) |
| RELEGATED | Pope's emissary embraced by cardinal and sent down (9) |
| NOTREDAME | Mention about a mass being led by cardinal in cathedral (5,4) |
| ZUCCHETTO | Skullcap worn by cardinals and the Pope (9) |
| HENRYVIII | King of England who owned some 60 royal residences including Hampton Court Palace relinquished by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (5,1,1,1,1) |
| EBBED | Declined book after book penned by English journalist (5) |
| EARMARK | Set aside each comment except the second |
| REMOTE | Weighty book penned by the Queen turned up far away (6) |
| ALCOTT | Chapter at start of book penned by key US author |
| SHINBONE | Feature in frame fashionable book penned by quiet individual (8) |
