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 11th, 2005, and therefore, was signed by then Prefect, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.