Vatican City - Tomorrow, 7 January, the Extraordinary Consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV will begin at the Vatican. It will take place on 7–8 January 2026 between the New Synod Hall and the Paul VI Audience Hall. This is a distinctive moment in the life of the Church: an occasion on which the Pope gathers the College of Cardinals to reflect on matters deemed to be of particular importance, within a format that brings together prayer, listening, dialogue, and synthesis.
What an “extraordinary” consistory is
A consistory is the assembly through which the Pontiff convenes the cardinals in order to consult them on questions of governance and ecclesial direction. Canon law distinguishes, in particular, between ordinary and extraordinary consistories: the latter is held when the subject matter is considered of greater significance, and the convocation is intended to involve the College of Cardinals more broadly, calling upon them to offer their contribution of discernment and evaluation.
It is not a parliament with political votes, nor merely a protocol ceremony. The consistory is an instrument of counselto the Pope, who remains the sole holder of decision-making authority. For this very reason, when it is described as “extraordinary”, it signals the need for a more intense and structured exchange around a theme, or a set of issues, that the Successor of Peter considers decisive at a particular historical moment.
“You, dear Cardinals,” said Pope Leo XIV on 10 May, “are the Pope’s closest collaborators, and this is a great comfort to me as I accept a yoke clearly far beyond my own strength, as it would be for anyone. Your presence reminds me that the Lord, who has entrusted this mission to me, does not leave me alone in bearing its responsibility. Above all, I know that I can always, always rely on His help—the help of the Lord—and, by His Grace and Providence, on your closeness and on that of so many brothers and sisters throughout the world who believe in God, love the Church, and support the Vicar of Christ through prayer and good works.”
The programme: welcome, introduction, and group work
The first day, Wednesday 7 January, will begin with registration and the distribution of materials from 12.30 to 15.00, with a welcome coffee from 14.00 in the atrium of the Paul VI Audience Hall. Some cardinals will be arriving in Rome from their dioceses, where they celebrated the Solemnity of the Epiphany with their faithful. At 15.30, the official opening will take place: an opening prayer, a greeting by Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, followed by a meditation, the introductory address of the Holy Father, and the presentation of the programme with guidelines for the group work. The first session (16.15–19.00) is designed to be operational. Group work begins at 16.15, followed at 18.00 by the reports from the groups. The day concludes at 18.45 with an address by the Pope and the concluding prayer. It is therefore not limited to plenary speeches, but follows a process of listening and feedback, marked by progressive synthesis.
The second day: Mass at St Peter’s, two sessions, and the conclusion with the Te Deum
Thursday 8 January begins early with Holy Mass at 7.30 a.m. in St Peter’s Basilica, at the Altar of the Chair. After the celebration, a coffee service will be offered in the atrium of the Paul VI Audience Hall. The second session (9.30–12.45) resumes with prayer and an introduction, followed at 9.45 by further group work. After the 11.00 break, the group reports are scheduled for 11.30, followed at 12.00 by open interventions on the topic, and then the Angelus. At 13.00, lunch with the Holy Father will take place in the atrium of the Paul VI Audience Hall, followed by the third session (15.15–19.00): prayer and introduction, group work at 15.30, a break at 17.00, group reports at 17.30, and further open interventions at 18.00. The conclusion is entrusted, at 18.45, to the final address of the Holy Father and the Te Deum of thanksgiving for the experience shared.
Why this meeting matters
The decision to convene an extraordinary consistory, with ample time and a structure that emphasises groups, reports, and open interventions, points to the Pope’s intention to foster a genuine exchange, rather than a merely formal exercise. For the Pontiff, the consistory remains one of the privileged settings in which to gauge the sentire of the College of Cardinals and to orient the universal Church in matters of priority and governance. Tomorrow, with the opening of the proceedings and the introductory address of the Holy Father, the Sacred Collegewill understand which emphasis will be placed on the theme and what direction is intended for the path that the consistory, by its very nature, exists to support: to discern together, to advise, and then to decide with responsibility.
fr.L.S.
Silere non possum