Vatican City, Feb 23, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, by request of the Pope this morning, presided at the Ordinary Public Consistory for the canonization of five Blesseds in a ceremony held this morning in the Vatican.
The Holy Father wrote to the Cardinal that, "For reasons of prudence, I have been advised to follow (the consistory) from my apartments via an internal television link.”
He then entrusted Cardinal Sodano, “the task of presiding that gathering, and authorize you to proceed, in my name, with the various acts scheduled to take place.”
The Pope asked the Cardinal to announce that, "Following the favorable opinion, already expressed in writing by cardinals from all over the world, and by archbishops and bishops resident in Rome, I intend to set the date of Sunday October 23, 2005, for the canonization of the following five Blesseds.”