Apr 30, 2005 11:08 am US/Eastern
College Of Cardinals Name New Dean
Cardinal Angelo Sodano Also Secretary Of State
VATICAN CITY (AP) ―
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The College of Cardinals prepare to elect a new pope. (File)
CBS
The Vatican's No. 2 official, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, has been named dean of the College of Cardinals, the powerful position held by Pope Benedict XVI before his election as pope.
The Vatican said Saturday that the pope had given approval to Sodano's appointment, which was made by the cardinals. The Italian-born Sodano, 77, is also the Vatican's secretary of state, a position he has held since 1991.
The dean of the College of Cardinals has a prominent role inside the Vatican, and one that becomes especially important after the death of a pope. Among other things, the dean presides over the conclave of cardinals that elects the new pontiff.
When Pope John Paul II died April 2, it was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the current pontiff, who served as dean. He delivered the homily at John Paul's funeral as well as at a Mass at the opening of the conclave. He set the tone for the secret balloting that eventually elected him the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray of France will serve as Sodano's deputy, the Vatican said. Sodano had been Ratzinger's deputy as vice-dean of the college.
In one of his first official acts as pope, Benedict confirmed Sodano as secretary of state as well as the rest of the Vatican hierarchy, ensuring a seamless transition in church leadership.
Also Saturday, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the pope would meet with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at the Vatican on Tuesday. It will be Benedict's first formal audience with a head of state since his election April 19.
The pope briefly greeted Ciampi and hundreds of other dignitaries who had attended his installation Mass in St. Peter's Square last Sunday.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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