Pope Leo XIV and members of his College of Cardinals have begun a synodal journey to grow in communion and discern “what the Lord is asking of us for the good of his people”. Source: CNS.
After convening the international group of cardinals in Rome for an extraordinary consistory on January 7-8, the Pope decided to make the gathering an annual event, however, with an additional meeting later this year.
It marked an approach that vastly expanded on what Pope Francis established after his election in 2013.
Wishing for a more decentralised and listening Church, the late Pope created a nine-member Council of Cardinals to advise him on several critical matters facing the Church, particularly the reform of the Roman Curia, by meeting at least quarterly in Rome.
Pope Leo decided he would be inviting all the world’s cardinals to Rome every year for a few days, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, told reporters at a news conference after the consistory ended on January 8.
College members will meet with the Pope again for at least three days sometime in June, possibly around the feast of Sts Peter and Paul (June 29), and then the gathering will be held over three to four days annually in future years.
The College of Cardinals is made up of 245 cardinals from all over the world. About 170 came to Rome for the consistory.
In his opening remarks to the cardinals on January 7, Pope Leo said the “collegial journey” that they have begun with their first consistory would be an opportunity to reflect together on two themes of their choice out of mission, synodality, the service of the Holy See and the liturgy. The cardinals voted with “a large majority” to discuss the first two themes – mission and synodality, Mr Bruni told reporters.
“I am here to listen,” Pope Leo told the cardinals before they began their two days of reflection and dialogue.
FULL STORY
Pope embarks on synodal journey with cardinals to better listen to the world (By Carol Glatz, CNS)
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