Text 1187, 50 rader
Skriven 2006-03-28 21:25:38 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

CARDINALS MEET WITH BENEDICT XVI

VATICAN CITY, MAR 23, 2006 (VIS) - A day of reflection and prayer, called by
the Pope prior to tomorrow's consistory, began at 9.30 a.m. today in the
Vatican's Synod Hall in the presence of the members of the College of
Cardinals.

At the beginning of the meeting Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of
Cardinals, thanked Benedict XVI in the name of all those present for having
called them to this day of prayer as an encouragement "to joint action more in
keeping with the pastoral challenges of the present time".

Today's meeting, he said, "shows the importance Your Holiness attributes to the
College of Cardinals. For our part, we undertake to abide by the mission the
Church expects from us".

In his brief address, Cardinal Sodano recalled how the cardinals help the Pope
"both when gathered collegially, and when acting individually within the Roman
Curia". In this context, he stressed the "complementarity" between the two
consultative bodies at the disposal of the Roman Pontiff: the Synod, created
following Vatican Council II, and the College of Cardinals.

"Your Holiness," he concluded, "will now inform us of the themes upon which you
wish to hear our opinion and to take counsel. As dean, it is also my honor to
extend to you the devoted greetings of all members of the College of Cardinals
who are absent because of urgent appointments or through reasons of health -
such as Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, dean emeritus - and who are present in
spirit".

During the meeting there will be free discussions and exchanges of opinion
among the participants, in a manner similar to the congregations of cardinals
prior to last year's conclave, which were presided over by the then Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger, in his capacity as dean of the College of Cardinals.

The day of reflection and prayer, which will continue this afternoon from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m., is being held before tomorrow's Ordinary Public Consistory
during which the Holy Father will create 15 new cardinals.
.../MEETING COLLEGE CARDINALS/SODANO VIS 060323 (350)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)