During an Extraordinary Consistory at the Vatican this week, Pope Leo XIV urged the world’s cardinals to embrace a spirit of shared responsibility, discernment, and missionary focus, telling them plainly, “I feel the need to be able to count on you.”
Speaking at the conclusion of the first session of the consistory, Pope Leo addressed approximately 170 cardinals gathered in the Paul VI Hall after they completed discussions in linguistic groups. According to Vatican News, the cardinals selected synodality and mission in the light of Evangelii gaudium as the primary themes for reflection, choosing them by a clear majority over other proposed topics.
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The Pope thanked the cardinals for their discernment, emphasizing that the choice reflects the Church’s deepest identity. “One theme cannot be separated from the other,” he said, explaining that synodality expresses how the Church journeys together, while mission defines why the Church exists at all.
“The Church’s reason for being is not for cardinals, nor for bishops, nor for the clergy,” Pope Leo said, according to Vatican News. “It is to proclaim the Gospel.” He added that Evangelii gaudium calls the Church to proclaim “the kerygma, the Gospel, with Christ at the center,” affirming, “This is our mission.”
Although Pope Leo did not participate directly in the small-group discussions, he listened closely as nine table secretaries presented summaries of their conversations during the plenary session. He noted that members of the Roman Curia are more readily available for consultation, while the voices of cardinals from across the world are essential for true discernment.
The Holy Father also made clear that the topics not chosen were not being set aside permanently. “The other themes are not lost,” he said. “There are very concrete, specific issues that we still need to address.”
Reflecting on the process itself, Pope Leo highlighted the importance of collegiality, citing one secretary’s observation that “the journey was just as important as the conclusion of the work at the table.” He described the consistory as a witness to the Church’s desire to walk together, even when doing so requires significant sacrifice, including long travel for many participants.
In his concluding remarks, the Pope returned to a question he posed during the Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany: “Is there life in our Church?” According to Vatican News, he answered confidently, “I am convinced that there is,” while acknowledging that the Church must remain attentive to what is still being born and where the Spirit is leading.
Warning against complacency, Pope Leo cautioned against the temptation to believe that “everything is already done, finished—do as we have always done.” Instead, he said, the Gospel frees the Church from fear, making it “bold, attentive, and creative,” and opening “paths different from those already taken.”
Concluding his address, Pope Leo described the consistory as one of many signs of the Church’s renewal. “The Holy Spirit is alive and present also among us,” he said. “How beautiful it is to find ourselves together in the boat,” according to Vatican News.
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