POPE Leo XIV ended his first extraordinary consistory on Thursday calling for the College of Cardinals to act as a “community of faith” rather than a “mere body of experts”.

“We may not always find immediate solutions to the problems we face, yet in every place and circumstance, we will be able to help one another – and in particular, to help the Pope – to find the ‘five loaves and two fish’ that providence never fails to provide wherever his children ask for help,” he said.

Pope Leo made it clear that he expected the cardinals to be advisors, not advocates for specific interests.

“We gather not to promote personal or group ‘agendas,’ but to entrust our plans and inspirations to a discernment that transcends us,” he said during an early morning Mass at St Peter’s Basilica.

Throughout the sessions, Pope Leo emphasised a culture of listening, telling the cardinals he too was “here to listen”.

He reminded them that their diversity should be a source of strength.

“While unity attracts, division scatters,” he said.

Discussions: Members of the College of Cardinals take part in an extraordinary consistory with Pope Leo XIV in the Synod Hall at the Vatican, January 7, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

“We are called first to get to know one another and to dialogue, so that we may work together in serving the Church.”

The meeting, while focused on unity, was not without its tensions.

Media pressure had risen in the lead-up to the consistory as Pope Leo initially slated four topics for discussion – liturgy, curia reform, synodality and evangelisation.

The inclusion of liturgy in the list led many Catholic news outlets and pundits to speculate across December what might be in store for the future of the Church’s traditional Latin Mass communities.

But in his opening address, Pope Leo told the cardinals due to time constraints, he wanted to focus on just two of the four topics at this consistory, assuring the others would be covered eventually.

He left it up to the cardinals to decide the two topics that would be covered.

The cardinals voted in favour of synodality and evangelisation, effectively sidelining the issue of liturgy.

The two-day gathering brought about 170 cardinals to Rome from across the world.

In a departure from Pope Francis, Pope Leo announced that he intended to make the meetings an annual event, beginning with another session in June.

South African Cardinal Stephen Brislin described the consistory discussions as “very enriching,” thanks to the different perspectives that made it possible to deepen an understanding of the needs of the world.

He said it was an opportunity to know and to come to know one another.

He said the fact that there would be a new meeting in June was a sign that the Holy Father has taken seriously the fact that the cardinals could help him in his role as Successor of Peter.

“Eight months after the Conclave the Pope wanted to convene us to listen to us,” Colombian Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio said.

This “strengthens us in the mission of the Church”.

Filipino Cardinal Pablo David said he appreciated the fact that the Pope “listened more than he spoke”.

“He was taking notes, he was very attentive; the input he gave was very enriching for all of us,” he said.

As the consistory drew to a close, Pope Leo expressed his need for their collective support in the task of governing 1.4 billion Catholics.

“In the future, this way of listening to one another, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and walking together, will continue to be of great help for the Petrine ministry entrusted to me,” he said.