![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Pope-Leo-XIV-consistary-Jun262026-678x381.jpg\" "\\"Pope")
\nPope Leo XIV celebrates the opening Mass of an extraordinary consistory of cardinals, the second of his pontificate, in St. Peter\u02bcs Basilica on June 26, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media)<\/p>\n
\nPope Leo XIV celebrates the opening Mass of an extraordinary consistory of cardinals, the second of his pontificate, in St. Peter\u02bcs Basilica on June 26, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media)<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV opened his second extraordinary consistory of cardinals on June 26 by defending his decision to conduct the gathering in a synodal format, acknowledging that the approach is unusual, but insisting that the Lord is leading the Church along this path so that she can \u201cgrow in communion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing\u00a0178\u00a0cardinals<\/a>\u00a0in the Paul VI Hall on the first of two days of discussions, Leo encouraged\u00a0them to \u201cengage wholeheartedly\u201d in\u00a0a synodal,\u00a0working group\u00a0structure, adding that he was \u201cwell aware that, for many of us, this is not the usual way of conducting a\u00a0consistory.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, he said this form is now part of \u201cthe journey along which the Lord is leading us,\u201d encouraging the\u00a0cardinals\u00a0to\u00a0participate\u00a0actively while assuring them that they can still make \u201cpersonal contributions\u201d and send him \u201cany confidential observations or reflections.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnter into this ecclesial exercise with confidence,\u201d\u00a0he said, adding that\u00a0synodality\u00a0is learned \u201cby practising it\u201d and that\u00a0\u201cwe learn together to grow in communion.\u201d<\/p>\n The pope\u2019s comments came after some cardinals had\u00a0expressed apprehensions<\/a>\u00a0about the consistory using a \u201csynodal\u201d round-table format for a second time \u2014 a structure they felt was \u201cvery controlled\u201d when used at the first consistory last\u00a0January, and\u00a0left\u00a0them with a sense that key decisions and framing had been set in advance.<\/p>\n Efforts made to address those concerns at this meeting include the introduction of a \u201cfree dialogue\u201d session at the end of the meeting and a dedicated email address where cardinals can write directly to the pope to share their advice and concerns.<\/p>\n In his opening address, Pope Leo\u00a0summarized\u00a0the four themes the cardinals are to discuss. First, they were invited to contemplate the world \u201cthrough the eyes of faith,\u201d listening and walking with others amid contemporary challenges. Secondly, they were asked to reflect on a \u201ccivilization of love\u201d in a time of conflict,\u00a0oppression\u00a0and division, drawing on his social encyclical\u202fMagnifica Humanitas, which explores human dignity and the common good. Thirdly, they are to explore that encyclical in greater depth by examining how the Church can build the common good through shared responsibility and adopting a \u201csynodal style.\u201d Finally, they are to consider how to implement the Synod on Synodality \u201cin the face of the world\u2019s wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Synodality,\u00a0a recurring theme\u00a0in both his opening address and homily at the opening Mass, \u201cpoints to a way forward: listening, discerning and jointly assuming responsibility,\u201d\u00a0Leo said.\u00a0It is not\u00a0simply\u00a0a set of procedures, he insisted,\u00a0but \u201can attitude, an openness, a willingness to understand.\u201d\u00a0Nor does it entail\u00a0a \u201cdiminishment of authority;\u201d\u00a0rather it\u00a0serves\u00a0to \u201csafeguard communion\u201d\u00a0while fostering the participation of all and helping pastors exercise authority more evangelically.<\/p>\n The pope underlined that the consistory is not meant merely to address the internal life of the Church but to shape \u201cour view of the world, peace, the common good, synodality,\u201d so that the Gospel may be proclaimed with greater fidelity and credibility. The goal, he said, is to improve the Church\u2019s witness and to become better heralds of the Gospel, which requires listening and the sharing of responsibilities.<\/p>\n \u201cFor this\u00a0reason\u00a0I wish to ask for your help,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0continued. \u201cI need your support: strong,\u00a0explicit\u00a0and public. I need to feel supported by you as by brothers.\u201d He\u00a0urged\u00a0the cardinals to\u00a0accompany\u00a0him in his\u00a0service,\u00a0to\u00a0listen to what is\u00a0emerging\u00a0in\u00a0local\u00a0churches,\u00a0to\u00a0recognize signs of hope,\u00a0but not ignore \u201cstruggles, misunderstandings and resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n Leo\u00a0said he was convinced the Lord is \u201cteaching us a more evangelical way of living out together the responsibility he has entrusted to us,\u201d and that the credibility of their witness and fruitfulness in mission depend on\u00a0this.<\/p>\n The pope\u00a0decided to reinstate extraordinary consistories after\u00a0Pope Francis\u00a0had suspended them in\u00a02014,\u00a0a\u00a0generally\u00a0unpopular\u00a0move with many cardinals who, ahead of the conclave last year, voiced a need for the Holy Father to consult them more\u00a0frequently.<\/p>\n In contrast to\u00a0the approach of\u00a0Francis, who rarely consulted\u00a0his\u00a0porporati\u00a0except for\u00a0a select few and\u00a0his\u00a0council\u00a0of nine cardinals\u00a0who advised him on Church governance, Pope Leo\u00a0was emphatic\u00a0on Friday\u00a0about\u00a0how much he valued their input, saying \u201csincere advice is always an act of communion\u201d and that he needed their freedom, frankness and loyalty.<\/p>\n He thanked them for attending, saying their presence showed their \u201cconcern for the whole Church,\u201d and stressing that their dialogue with him, to assist him in the service and mission of the Church, is one of the cardinals\u2019 \u201cmost important responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Leo\u00a0underlined that they are to be builders of \u201cChrist\u2019s communion\u201d which, he said, \u201ctakes shape in a synodal Church in which everyone cooperates in the same mission, each according to their own charism and ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not guardians of particular interests,\u201d he reminded them, \u201cbut disciples and witnesses of the Kingdom of God, called to be, in Christ, the leaven of universal brotherhood,\u201d echoing remarks he had made to the Roman Curia last December.<\/p>\n Opening homily<\/p>\n In his\u00a0homily at the opening Mass<\/a>\u00a0in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica on Friday morning, Pope Leo\u00a0said\u00a0synodality\u00a0and collegiality are \u201cforms of Christian fraternity,\u201d which\u00a0enables all the baptized to\u00a0participate\u00a0in the unity of the People of God.<\/p>\n Noting that the meeting is taking place just ahead of the Solemnity of\u00a0Sts. Peter and Paul, he urged the cardinals to follow the apostles\u2019 example of sharing the faith in freedom, to ask for the gift of peace and unity, and to \u201csavor harmony through obedience.\u201d<\/p>\n The implementation of the synod, \u201cto which we are committed, invites everyone to move forward in unity of faith, promoting peace, and in obedience to Jesus, the living Word,\u201d he said. As ideologies fade away, the Holy Spirit makes fraternal harmony, charity, and missionary zeal \u201cflourish in the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur working together in a collegial way embodies the synodality in which all the baptized participate in the unity of the People of God,\u201d he continued. \u201cSynodality and collegiality are, in fact, forms of Christian fraternity, which binds us together as the baptized and as bishops.\u201d<\/p>\n Appearing to recast the way in which Petrine ministry is exercised, he\u00a0closed by saying\u00a0that in helping him in that task,\u00a0\u201cyou will find in me one who asks, not commands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMoreover, the authority of primacy belongs to the one who listens and only then leads, to the one who learns and only then teaches, always following the one and only Teacher,\u201d he said. \u201cMay the intercession of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul accompany us on this enthralling journey.\u201d<\/p>\n If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating<\/a> to support our efforts. 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