Pope Leo IV Inaugurates Consistory Attended By 178 Cardinals.

Vatican City; June 2026: “I need your freedom, your frankness, and your loyalty. Sincere counsel is always an act of communion”, Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals today (Saturday, 27th June, IST; Friday, 26th June, Vatican Local time) with that invitation to his 178 brother Cardinals, who are participating in this 02 days celebrations.

After celebrating Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, the cardinals moved to the Paul VI Hall, where they gathered at their assigned working tables. The participants were divided into 08 groups of diocesan cardinal electors (including apostolic nuncios and cardinal electors who have completed their service as diocesan bishops) and ten groups comprising cardinals serving in the Roman Curia together with non-elector cardinals.

Following the singing of the Veni Creator, Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, who moderated the first session, formally opened the proceedings and invited Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, to offer his greeting. Pope Leo XIV then delivered an introductory address.

In his homily, the Pope reminded the Cardinals that the life-giving source of the Consistory is Christ Himself, as proclaimed in the Gospel: “I am the true vine” (Jn 15:1). He explained that “the Gospel itself prepares the ground for it to bear fruit: ‘Remain in me, and I in you’ (Jn 15:4)”. He then reflected on three guiding principles for discernment during these days: sharing in the true freedom of faith, asking for the gift of peace in unity, and embracing harmony through obedience.

“As we ask God to grant us strength and wisdom, it is significant that our Consistory takes place on the eve of the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Let us pause, then, to commemorate these two pillars of the Roman Catholic Church, the two missionary martyrs whose preaching became one with their lives, to the point of becoming part of Sacred Scripture”, Pope Leo said.

The Pope first invited the Cardinals to allow themselves to be guided by the example of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who encourage believers to ‘share in the true freedom of faith’. He explained that “it is precisely our relationship with the Lord Jesus that frees us from sin and fear. As He calls us to follow Him, He sends us out into the world as successors of the Apostles. Faith is that virtue, which is never to be taken for granted, that gives life to the Church, for it is the grace that nourishes the branches of the one vine. The living Church is the Church that believes through the gift of the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. And this Church bears much fruit”, the Pope said.

Secondly, Pope Leo invited the Cardinals to ask for “the gift of peace in unity” – Reflecting on the many conflicts affecting humanity, he stressed that “war is never worthy of humanity, and it is never blessed by God, because, even if we are equipped with high-tech weapons, the Creator has endowed us with intelligence and free will to resolve conflicts as human beings and not as beasts. Peace is a duty of justice because we are one human family, a magnifica humanitas that finds its head and redeemer in Christ”.

Referring to the path outlined in his first encyclical and recalling the teaching of Saint Paul VI, the Pope encouraged perseverance in building the “civilization of love,” in which justice and charity are inseparably linked. “As she proclaims the Gospel, amid both joys and persecutions, the Church is never partial, since she is for everyone, and to each she addresses the same message of conversion and salvation”, said the Pope.

Finally, Pope Leo invited the Cardinals to embrace “harmony through obedience,” describing it as “a listening that recognises the gift of the Word made flesh for us”. Through this attentive listening, he said, “the Holy Spirit guides us, pointing out pastoral challenges and opportunities, purifying our intentions, and correcting whatever strays from our shared path”.

He highlighted in particular the ongoing implementation of the Synod, which “invites everyone to move forward in unity of faith, in promoting peace, and in obedience to Jesus, the living Word”.

The Pope concluded by underlining that “our working together in a collegial way embodies the synodality in which all the baptized participate in the unity of the People of God. Synodality and collegiality are, in fact, forms of Christian fraternity, which binds us together as the baptized and as Bishops”.

Team Maverick.