Pope Leo summons world’s cardinals for a key assembly to help him govern the church

Pope Leo XIV has summoned all cardinals to Rome for a significant two-day meeting in January, marking what Vatican observers see as the true beginning of his pontificate after several months focused on Holy Year obligations.

The Vatican announced Saturday that the consistory will take place on January 7-8, immediately following the conclusion of the 2025 Holy Year celebrations that end on January 6. This timing suggests a deliberate transition from the Church’s jubilee activities to the pope’s own agenda.

“The consistory will be oriented toward fostering common discernment and offering support and advice to the Holy Father in the exercise of his high and grave responsibility in the government of the universal Church,” the Vatican statement read.

Since his historic election on May 8 as the first American pope in Church history, Leo XIV has spent much of his papacy addressing two major priorities: fulfilling the weekly obligations of the Holy Year and completing unfinished business from Pope Francis’ pontificate. The Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity, has demanded significant papal attention with special Masses, audiences, and meetings with pilgrim groups from around the world.

Vatican analysts note that Leo’s decision to convene all cardinals represents a potential shift in governing style from his predecessor. Pope Francis largely moved away from the traditional consistory model, instead relying on a kitchen cabinet of eight or nine handpicked cardinal advisers known as the Council of Cardinals to help shape policy and make key decisions.

By gathering the entire College of Cardinals, Leo appears to be signaling a more collegial approach to Church governance. The meeting format allows for broader input from Church leaders representing diverse regions and perspectives.

Cardinal Thomas Williams of Boston told reporters, “This consistory gives the pope an opportunity to hear directly from those who lead the Church in every corner of the world. It’s an important listening exercise as he begins to chart his own course.”

The Vatican clarified that this consistory is purely consultative and will not include the creation of new cardinals, which typically occurs in a separate type of consistory where new princes of the Church receive their red hats in a formal ceremony.

Church historians point out that new popes often use their first major gathering of cardinals to outline priorities and establish their leadership approach. The January meeting could provide insights into Leo’s vision for the Church and signal potential areas of focus during his pontificate.

“After these first months of transition, the January consistory gives Pope Leo the chance to put his own stamp on the papacy,” said Regina Sanchez, professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. “The timing, immediately after the Holy Year concludes, suggests we’re about to see what this pontificate will truly be about.”

The two-day format suggests substantive discussions rather than a ceremonial gathering, though the Vatican has not yet released a specific agenda for the meeting. Topics could range from ongoing Church reform efforts to global challenges facing Catholic communities worldwide.

The January consistory also gives Pope Leo an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the cardinal-electors who chose him in the May conclave, while engaging those who were appointed after his election.

As the first American to lead the 1.3 billion-member Catholic Church, Leo XIV’s early decisions are being closely watched for signs of continuity or change with Francis’ decade-long papacy.