What does Leo XIV want to discuss at his first consistory of cardinals?

The Vatican confirmed on 20 December that Pope Leo XIV will convene an extraordinary consistory of cardinals on 7 and 8 January 2026. It will be the first such gathering of his pontificate. It will also be the first time the entire College of Cardinals meets together since the conclave that elected him.

The last extraordinary consistory with major strategic impact was in February 2014 under Pope Francis, focused on marriage and family ahead of the Synod on the Family. This was the only extraordinary consistory invoked by the late pope.

What a consistory?

A consistory is a formal meeting of cardinals called by the pope to assist him in governing the universal Church.

An ordinary consistory is usually ceremonial. It is often used for creating new cardinals or for certain steps in canonizations. It is typically attended mainly by cardinals who live in Rome; however, it can still be significant in nature. Pope Benedict XVI for example, announced his resignation at a consistory in 2013.

An extraordinary consistory is different. It is designed for consultation with the whole College of Cardinals. The word itself points to the idea of “standing together.” Historically, it has been a major way for popes to seek counsel on doctrine, discipline, and Church governance. It is explicitly consultative. The pope remains the decision-maker, but he listens in a structured way.

The last extraordinary consistory with a significant strategic impact was in February 2014 under Pope Francis, focusing on marriage and the family ahead of the Synod on the Family. This was the only extraordinary consistory convened by the late Pope.

The importance of this council

The January 2026 gathering will be the first time most cardinals have been together since Pope Leo XIV’s election. Many had little chance to meet before the conclave. That means the College is still unfamiliar with the Pope’s major pontifical priorities. Hence, this meeting is not only about agenda items. It is also about relationships, trust and coherence.

That is why the meeting has symbolic weight. Pope Leo XIV is bringing together a body that is geographically vast and often divided by experience, culture and priorities. If he can create real communion and a workable way of collaborating, he strengthens his ability to govern and lead the Church.

The Holy See Press Office said the two days will include “moments of communion and fraternity” as well as time for “reflection, sharing and prayer”. The stated aim is to offer “support and advice” to the pope and to strengthen communion between the Bishop of Rome and the cardinals.

Those phrases can sound generic. But in a new pontificate, they point to something concrete: Pope Leo XIV is setting the tone for how he will lead. Will he govern through a small inner circle? Or will he try to build broader consultation and shared responsibility?

The agenda signals the pope’s governing instincts

In a Christmas letter to cardinals signed Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which Crux News in Rome had obtained, Pope Leo outlines four major points of discussion for the two-day meeting, with discussion likely to be focused on two issues per day.

Firstly, he asked for a renewed reading of Evangelii Gaudium (2013). That document is closely tied to Pope Francis’ vision of a missionary Church. Leo XIV appears to be saying that the Church cannot begin with internal debates. It must begin with proclaiming the Gospel. If he makes this the starting point, he frames the rest as tools for mission, not ends in themselves.

Secondly, he asked the cardinals to study Praedicate Evangelium (2022), the constitution that reformed the Roman Curia. This is crucial. Many disputes in recent years have not been only about theology. They have been about authority: who decides what and at what level. If Pope Leo XIV focuses here, he may be testing how much consensus exists for continuing Pope Francis’s reforms and how they will be implemented.

Thirdly, he highlighted synodality as a key form of cooperation with the pope on matters that affect the whole Church. This is not a small signal. Synodality has become a defining theme and a point of contention. By putting it on the agenda early on, Pope Leo XIV indicates he wants the College to engage it directly rather than treat it as someone else’s project.

Lastly, he called for theological, historical and pastoral reflection on the liturgy, stressing the need to preserve sound tradition while remaining open to legitimate development, in line with Vatican II. This topic is often where Church conflict becomes most visible. A pope who addresses it early may be trying to lower the temperature by clarifying principles. Or he may be preparing for decisions that will require support from Cardinals. Either way, the fact that it is included suggests he knows the issue cannot be avoided.

What this means for the Church

This consistory will likely be the first clear window into the mind of Pope Leo XIV. It will show what he wants to stress upon, what he thinks is urgent, and how he expects his closest collaborators to work with him.

It may also expose real limits. The subjects are wide. The time is short. That combination can produce either focus or frustration. A successful consistory will not solve everything. But it can establish a method: honest listening and clear priorities with a shared sense of direction.

In that sense, the extraordinary consistory is not merely procedural. It is the first major institutional act of this pontificate. It is where Pope Leo XIV will begin to define how he intends to govern with the cardinals, and what kind of Church he wants them to help him lead.