What is this "authorization" you speak of?

From This is London:

The row over the imminent release of the Da Vinci Code film grew today when star Tom Hanks hit out at its Catholic critics.

Cardinals, speaking with the authorization of the Vatican, have called for the Hollywood version of Dan Brown's bestselling novel to be boycotted. More...

What is this "authorization" they keep talking about? Because someone is a Cardinal does that mean everything they say is infallible and officially endorsed by Pope Benedict ex cathedra? No wonder the press took Martini's comments so seriously...!