In an opening address to cardinals gathered from around the world for a special two-day meeting at the Vatican this week, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that in their missionary work as a Church they are called to work in unity and charity, a witness through which Christ draws all to Himself.
The meeting, called an Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals, is from Jan. 7-8 and focuses on four main themes: the Church’s mission in the modern world; the work of the Holy See; synodality; and the liturgy.
Pope Leo said only two of these main themes will be specifically discussed due to time constraints. As CatholicVote previously reported, at a consistory the Pope gathers the College of Cardinals “to advise, deliberate, and collaborate on matters affecting the life and mission of the Church.”
In his opening address to the cardinals, Pope Leo quoted from the Vatican II Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, which proclaims in its first sentence: “Christ is the light of the nations and consequently this holy Synod, gathered together in the Holy Spirit, ardently desires to bring all humanity that light of Christ which is resplendent on the face of the Church, by proclaiming his Gospel to every creature.”
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Pope Leo reflected briefly on several of his predecessors’ pontificates in this context of Vatican II and Lumen Gentium, which emphasizes the evangelizing mission of the Church that flows from the passion, death, and Resurrection of Christ. The Pontiff noted that Popes Benedict XVI and Francis both distinguished the Church’s mission of evangelizing from proselytism.
Pope Benedict said in 2007 that “The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by ‘attraction’: just as Christ ‘draws all to himself’ by the power of his love, culminating in the sacrifice of the Cross, so the Church fulfils her mission to the extent that, in union with Christ, she accomplishes every one of her works in spiritual and practical imitation of the love of her Lord.”
Pope Leo encouraged the cardinals to reflect on what Pope Benedict said is the source of this attraction: agape, the Greek word for the highest form of charity and the love God has for humanity.
Christians are called to show this love, he emphasized.
“This is the power that attracts everyone to Christ, as he himself foretold: ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself,’” Pope Leo said, quoting John 12:32. “To the extent that we love one another as Christ has loved us, we belong to him, we are his community, and he can continue to draw others to himself through us. In fact, only love is credible; only love is trustworthy.”
Unity attracts, whereas “division scatters,” the Pontiff said. He recalled how Christ commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them, and by this witness all will know that they are Christ’s disciples (John 13:34-35). Pope Leo said he would like to begin with Christ’s words here for the first Consistory of his pontificate and for their journey as a collegiate.
“We are a very diverse group, enriched by a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ecclesial and social traditions, formative and academic paths, pastoral experiences, not to mention personal characteristics and traits,” Pope Leo said. “We are called first to get to know one another and to dialogue, so that we may work together in serving the Church. I hope that we can grow in communion and thus offer a model of collegiality.”
After noting the agenda and structure of the meeting, the Pontiff told the cardinals: “I am here to listen.”
Recalling the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops in 2023 and 2024, Pope Leo said that “the synodal dynamic implies a listening par excellence. Every moment of this kind is an opportunity to deepen our shared appreciation for synodality.”
He noted that on Jan. 8, they will discuss two of the main themes in depth, guided by this question: “Looking at the path of the next one or two years, what considerations and priorities could guide the action of the Holy Father and of the Curia regarding each theme?”
The discussions will require listening, attentiveness, and succinct expression of main points so that everyone can speak, Pope Leo added.
“In [the] future, this way of listening to each other, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and walking together, will continue to be a great help for the Petrine ministry entrusted to me,” he said. “Even the way in which we learn to work together, with fraternity and sincere friendship, can give rise to something new, something that brings both the present and the future into focus.”
According to the Holy See Press Office, earlier in the day on Jan. 7, Pope Leo received Cardinal Joseph Zen, 93, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, in a private audience. As is customary with all private audiences except with heads of state, no further details were provided.
