Pope Leo XIV has summoned cardinals from across the world for a two-day consultative assembly aimed at strengthening governance of the Catholic Church, the Vatican announced on Saturday.
Eko Hot News reports that the consistory will take place on January 7 and 8, immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 Holy Year celebrations on January 6 in Rome.
The gathering marks the clearest signal yet that the new pope is preparing to formally begin shaping his pontificate after months focused on transitional duties and Jubilee obligations.
Since his election on May 8 as the first American pope, Leo XIV has spent much of his early months presiding over Holy Year activities, including meetings with pilgrimage groups, special Jubilee audiences, and celebratory Masses.
The pope has also been engaged in resolving outstanding administrative and pastoral matters inherited from the pontificate of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
As a result, the January consistory is expected to serve as the first major opportunity for Pope Leo to set priorities and outline his long-term vision for the global Catholic Church.
The Vatican noted that the pope has invited all cardinals worldwide to Rome, underscoring the importance of collective counsel at this early stage of his leadership.
According to an official Vatican statement, 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.”
Consistories are formal gatherings of cardinals traditionally used by popes for consultation, decision-making, and, in some cases, the creation of new cardinals.
However, the Vatican clarified that no new cardinals will be appointed during this meeting, as the January gathering is strictly consultative in nature.
The approach represents a notable contrast with Pope Francis’ gov
erning style, as he largely avoided full consistories as a routine decision-making tool.
Instead, Francis relied on a smaller advisory group of eight or nine hand-picked cardinals to assist with governance and key policy decisions throughout his pontificate.
By convening the entire College of Cardinals, Pope Leo is signalling a renewed emphasis on broad consultation and shared responsibility in church leadership.
Observers say the move could shape how the new pope balances tradition, reform, and global representation within the Church’s highest decision-making structures.
The January assembly is expected to influence major policy directions, administrative reforms, and pastoral priorities as Pope Leo transitions fully into governing the universal Church.
Church officials and analysts view the meeting as a defining moment that may set the tone for Leo XIV’s papacy in the years ahead.
