VATICAN CITY — With the close of the 2025 Holy Year just days away, Pope Leo XIV has issued a historic summons to the world’s cardinals, calling them to Rome for two days of meetings that analysts say will mark the true beginning of his papacy. The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that the consistory—a formal assembly of cardinals—will convene on January 7 and 8, 2026, immediately following the conclusion of the Holy Year’s festivities on January 6.
The announcement, reported widely by outlets including AP, NPR, and 9News, has drawn attention not only for its timing but for what it signals: after months of inherited obligations and transitional duties, Pope Leo XIV is finally poised to chart his own course as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
"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," the Vatican stated. The language, both formal and weighty, underscores the gravity of the moment. For many within the Church, it’s the clearest sign yet that the new year will usher in a fresh era for Catholic leadership.
The consistory is not a routine event. In fact, Pope Francis, Leo’s immediate predecessor, largely set aside this tradition in favor of a tighter circle of hand-picked advisers—just eight or nine cardinals—who helped him make key decisions. According to NPR, Francis “had largely eschewed the consistory tradition as a means of governance,” preferring a more streamlined, less consultative approach.
But Pope Leo XIV is taking a different tack. By inviting all the world’s cardinals to Rome, he is reviving a centuries-old practice of broad consultation and shared discernment. This, some Vatican watchers say, could mark a significant shift in the way the Church is governed—one that emphasizes unity, transparency, and collective wisdom at a time of global uncertainty and internal challenge.
It’s no secret that Leo’s first few months as pope have been anything but ordinary. Elected on May 8, 2025, in a conclave that made history by selecting the first American to the papal throne, Leo stepped into a role shadowed by the long and transformative tenure of Pope Francis. Since then, his calendar has been dominated by the demands of the Holy Year—a once-every-quarter-century celebration that brings millions of pilgrims to Rome and requires the pope’s near-constant presence for special audiences, Masses, and meetings with the faithful.
“Leo’s first few months as pope have been dominated by fulfilling the weekly Holy Year obligations of meeting with pilgrimage groups and celebrating special Jubilee audiences and Masses,” AP noted, echoing the sentiment across international media. On top of that, much of his time has been spent “wrapping up the outstanding matters of Pope Francis’ pontificate,” a process that has required both sensitivity and patience.
Now, with the Jubilee drawing to a close, the January consistory will be, as 9News put it, “the first time that Leo can look ahead to his own agenda following his May 8 election as the first American pope.” The symbolism is hard to miss: the Holy Year ends, and with it, the last vestiges of the old guard’s unfinished business. The very next day, the cardinals gather—not to anoint new members, as is sometimes the case, but to consult, advise, and, perhaps, help shape the direction of Leo’s nascent pontificate.
Significantly, the Vatican has clarified that this consistory will be “purely consultative.” Unlike other such gatherings, where new cardinals might be created and the Church’s hierarchy reshuffled, this meeting will focus solely on discussion and discernment. No red hats will be handed out; the emphasis is on shared responsibility and dialogue.
For many observers, this consultative approach is both a nod to tradition and a subtle critique of the recent past. Pope Francis’ reliance on a small advisory group was efficient, but it also drew criticism for being insular and, at times, opaque. By contrast, Leo’s decision to engage the full College of Cardinals suggests a desire for broader buy-in and a more collegial style of governance. As NPR observed, “It is significant that he has summoned all the world’s cardinals to Rome.”
The timing, too, carries weight. The Holy Year—a period of pilgrimage, penance, and celebration—has always been a moment for the Church to reflect on its mission and renew its spiritual energy. By scheduling the consistory immediately after the Jubilee’s close, Leo is signaling that the renewal won’t end with the festivities; it will continue in the very governance of the Church itself.
Photographs from December 20, 2025, show Pope Leo XIV greeting the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, waving to crowds and presiding over the final Jubilee audience. The images, carried by AP and other outlets, capture a leader who is both accessible and aware of the weight of his office. The crowds, for their part, seem eager for what comes next.
Yet, for all the symbolism and anticipation, the agenda for the January meetings remains closely guarded. The Vatican’s official statement emphasizes “common discernment” and “support and advice,” but offers little detail about the specific issues to be discussed. Some cardinals, speaking on background, have suggested that topics may include the Church’s response to global crises, internal reforms, and the ongoing challenge of maintaining unity across continents and cultures.
For Catholics around the world, the consistory will be watched closely—not just as a piece of Vatican theater, but as a real test of Leo’s leadership and vision. Will he succeed in forging a new consensus among the Church’s top officials? Can he balance tradition and innovation, unity and diversity, in a way that addresses both the needs of the faithful and the demands of a changing world?
One thing is certain: after months of transition and ceremony, Pope Leo XIV is ready to step out from the shadow of his predecessor and make his mark. The world’s cardinals, gathering in Rome in the first days of 2026, will be both witnesses and participants in this pivotal moment. As the Vatican itself put it, the consistory offers “support and advice to the Holy Father in the exercise of his high and grave responsibility in the government of the universal Church.” The next chapter of Catholic history is about to begin—and all eyes are on Rome.
