A communiqué from the Holy See’s Press Office today announced that Pope Benedict XVI
has called for a day of reflection and prayer ahead of the upcoming Consistory for
the creation of new Cardinals. To be held on February 17th, the day before
the scheduled Consistory, the theme of the reflections is to be: "The proclamation
of the Gospel today, between missio ad gentes and the new evangelization” – a theme
to be introduced by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York. The President of
the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella,
will also present a communication on the upcoming Year of Faith. The communiqué from
the Press Office also notes that Cardinal-designate Joseph Becker SJ, the renowned
dogmatic theologian, will for health reasons not be participating in the public ceremony
on the 18th, but will rather be created privately at another time.