Pope names Cardinal Sodano dean of College of Cardinals

Published: 2005-05-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the election of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, as the new dean of the College of Cardinals. The post became empty April 19 when German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope. The six top-ranking cardinals of the Roman Curia elected the dean from among their membership; approval of the election by Pope Benedict was announced April 30 at the Vatican. Just five days earlier, Pope Benedict had promoted Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, to his former place among the cardinal bishops, as the rank of the six is called. Cardinal Arinze participated in the election of the new dean.

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