ROME, FEB. 3, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The College of Cardinals and those who will join its number Feb. 18 will gather for a day of prayer and reflection prior to the consistory, by invitation of Benedict XVI.
The Vatican announced today that the Feb. 17 prayer day (the consistory is Feb. 18) will focus on «the announcement of the Gospel today, between ‘missio ad gentes’ and new evangelization,» a theme that will be introduced by one of the cardinals-designate, Timothy Dolan of New York.
Cardinal-designate Dolan is the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.
The day will also include a report on the forthcoming Year of Faith, to be delivered by Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.
The prayer day will begin with lauds at 10 a.m. and conclude with vespers at 5 p.m..
Today’s communique also announced that, due to ill health, Cardinal-designate Jesuit Father Karl Josef Becker will not be created a cardinal during the Feb. 18 public ceremony, but in private at another time.
