POPE LEO XIV OPENS EXTRAORDINARY CONSISTORY
The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, on June 26, 2026, opens the Extraordinary Consistory, challenging the Cardinals to assist him in inviting the Holy Spirit to be a part and dominate the Church through their deliberate effort and counsel; he said that, “I need your freedom, your frankness, and your loyalty. Sincere counsel is always an act of communion.”
He again emphasized that these deliberations may assist the Cardinals and the Pope to manage any situation that may occur in the course of their duty and the Church as a whole. He added that Communion needs daily conversion, prayer, trusting relationships, and listening to each other to adjust for our common good.
He reminded them of the four themes on which they will reflect at the meeting within the two days of their deliberations.
Firstly, the Cardinals will reflect on the world in which the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel. This will help them to analyze the scenario where Jesus walks in the streets and ends up being victorious and fulfilled.
Secondly, they will study the implications of the culture of power and the civilization of love. The Pope continued by calling on the Cardinals to reflect on his encyclical Magnifica humanitas as a guide to hold their own local Churches in shape.
Leo XIV said that, in the third session, the Cardinals will deliberate on the Church’s contributions she can make for the common good of humanity. He said that, “The Church’s social doctrine reminds us that the common good does not arise spontaneously but requires shared responsibility, he said that for the Church, this takes on a very precise form: a synodal style at the service of the mission of the Kingdom.”
During the fourth session, they will focus on the continued implementation of the Synod on Synodality.
The Holy Father stressed that the final session will gather all the reflections of the three previous deliberations and critically look at it once again under the lens of synodality as an “attitude, an openness, and a willingness to understand,” summing it all up with the question which states that, “How can we help our Churches today to proclaim the Gospel with greater fidelity, freedom and credibility?
He underscored that ‘Mission’ is not one of many responsibilities for the Church but her reason for existing that mandates the Cardinals to listen, bear their responsibilities, and discern the actions of the Holy Spirit. He said, “I count on you to help me discern what the Spirit is saying to the Church today. I need your support: strong, explicit, and public, and I need to feel sustained by you as brothers,” as he ended the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals held at the Paul VI Hall.
By: Anita Aryeh,
DEOSOCOM Accra.
