Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, has sent a letter to the
members of the college, and to the cardinals-elect, announcing that the Pope has invited
them all to participate in a day of "reflection and prayer" due to be held in the
Vatican's New Synod Hall on Friday 19 November.
The day of prayer, which falls
on the eve of the ordinary public consistory of 20 November, will focus on two themes.
The first of these is the situation of religious freedom in the world and new challenges,
with an introductory talk by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
The
second theme for reflection will be the liturgy in the life of the Church today, with
a preliminary contribution from Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Three
other contributions are scheduled for the afternoon session: "Ten years on from 'Dominus
Iesus" by Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints; and "the Church's response to cases of sexual abuse" and "the Constitution
'Anglicanorum coetibus', both to be delivered by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect
of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.