Pope Leo XIV Calls Cardinals to Discern Church’s Mission through Dialogue and Unity

Pope Leo XIV opened the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals on June 26, inviting his brother Cardinals to offer their support, counsel and openness as they reflect together on the challenges facing the Church and the world today.

The two-day meeting, held in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican and concluding Saturday evening, is aimed at helping the Pope and the College of Cardinals discern the action of the Holy Spirit and strengthen their collaboration in serving the Church.

“I need your freedom, your frankness, and your loyalty. Sincere counsel is always an act of communion,” the Pope told the Cardinals at the opening of the Consistory, according to Vatican News.

During the Consistory, the Cardinals will focus on four major themes.

The first reflection will examine the world in which the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel. Pope Leo said understanding today’s realities is essential for recognizing Christ’s presence in history and responding to the needs of people.

The second theme will focus on the contrast between a culture of power and a civilization of love. The Pope noted that many Cardinals come from regions affected by war and conflict, while acknowledging that no society is untouched by divisions, domination and tensions.

Vatican News reported that Pope Leo encouraged the Cardinals to use his encyclical Magnifica humanitas as a guide for reflecting on the realities and challenges faced by their local Churches.

The third session will explore the Church’s contribution to the common good of humanity. Pope Leo emphasized that the common good requires shared responsibility and cannot emerge automatically.

“The Church’s social doctrine reminds us that the common good does not arise spontaneously, but requires shared responsibility,” the Pope said. “For the Church, this takes on a very precise form: a synodal style at the service of the mission of the Kingdom.”

The final session will examine the ongoing implementation of the Synod on Synodality, bringing together the previous discussions through the perspective of synodality as an attitude of openness, listening and understanding.

Rather than focusing only on internal Church concerns, Pope Leo invited the Cardinals to look outward toward the world and ask how the Church can proclaim the Gospel with greater fidelity, freedom and credibility.

He stressed that mission is not simply one responsibility among many for the Church, but the very reason for its existence. This mission requires listening, responsibility and collective discernment of the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Concluding his opening address, Pope Leo thanked the Cardinals for their support and asked them to continue walking with him in service of the Church.

“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,” the Pope said. “I need to feel sustained by you as brothers.”