Vatican City, Oct 21, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The Vatican daily newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, published today a doctrinal note indicating that only priests are habilitated to apply to Sacrament of the Unction to the sick and ill.

“ Only priests-bishops and priests-, are admitted to administrate the Sacrament of the Unction, therefore, deacons nor lay can not exercise this ministry and any sort of act of that kind will constitute a simulation of a sacrament,” says the note of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The Document bears the date of the February 11^th, 2005, and therefore, was signed by then Prefect, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

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