Pope Leo I 14th and the Extraordinary Consistory: Redefining Collegiality in the Catholic Church

For many Catholics, the image of the papacy has long been dominated by a singular, almost cinematic idea: the pope as a solitary figure at the helm of the Church.

A man elected behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel emerges onto the balcony of St.

Peter’s Basilica, suddenly carrying the spiritual weight of more than a billion believers.

This vision, though powerful, captures only a fraction of what the papal office entails.

In reality, the Church has never been designed for isolation.

From its earliest days, collegiality—the shared governance among bishops—has been woven into the very fabric of the episcopate.

This principle, often overlooked in modern times, was brought into sharp focus by Pope Leo I 14th during his first extraordinary consistory, held on January 7th and 8th, 2026.

The consistory convened approximately 170 cardinals from every continent: Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, Europe, and Oceania.

This assembly was not limited to the cardinal electors—those eligible to vote in a papal conclave—but also included cardinals over the age limit, men who had witnessed multiple conclaves, guided generations of the faithful, and carried decades of pastoral experience.

This inclusion was strategic, not ceremonial.

It acknowledged that wisdom accumulated through years of service cannot be relegated to the margins of governance.

Pope Leo I 14th’s decision signaled a clear message: the Church’s guidance depends on collective discernment, not on a single voice, however elevated it may be.

Unlike typical gatherings where new cardinals are created or official documents issued, this extraordinary consistory had no immediate ceremonial outcome.

There were no red hats distributed, no final statements drafted.

Instead, Pope Leo I 14th opened the assembly with a declaration that was almost revolutionary in its simplicity: this meeting was not convened to reach conclusions but to sustain a conversation.

In a Church culture that often equates success with output—documents, decrees, and proclamations—this framing represented a profound shift in papal understanding.

He followed with a phrase that defined the entire consistory: “It is not the Church that attracts, but Christ.

” This statement was far from rhetorical; it was corrective.

Pope Leo I 14th emphasized that the Church risks distraction whenever it becomes preoccupied with its visibility, authority, or internal conflicts.

True evangelization, he suggested, is never a product of institutional strength but emerges when Christ is allowed to shine through unity, humility, and genuine communion.

Division disperses, he reminded the cardinals, while unity rooted in Christ gathers.

The structure of the consistory reflected this theology.

Rather than sitting in hierarchical rows, the cardinals were arranged at round tables organized by language, facing one another.

The round table is a symbolic choice: there is no head, no place of privilege, no single figure dominating the conversation.

Each cardinal was allotted three minutes to speak—no more, no less.

This brief window, deceptively modest, prevented any individual from monopolizing the discussion and encouraged the participants to focus on what truly mattered.

It was a form of practical and spiritual discipline, embodying collegiality in action rather than in principle.

With 170 cardinals each contributing three minutes, over eight hours were dedicated solely to listening and dialogue.

Speakers addressed the challenges facing their local churches: a cardinal from Manila discussed digital evangelization; one from Kinshasa highlighted the plight of the persecuted Church; a representative from São Paulo spoke about the peripheries of society; a voice from Sydney addressed the rising pressures of secularism.

In every instance, the focus was not on bureaucracy or strategy but on discerning the needs of the global Church and listening attentively to one another.

At the close of the first day, the cardinals were asked to select the themes that would guide their reflections.

Four proposals were presented: Evangelium, Predicate, Cinidality, and Liturgy.

By a decisive majority, the cardinals chose Cinidality and Mission.

This choice is highly revealing: the focus was not structural reform, administrative oversight, or procedural updates.

Instead, it centered on identity, purpose, and the manner in which the Church walks together in its mission to proclaim the Gospel.

That evening, Pope Leo I 14th delivered an unscripted address, speaking not merely as a pope but as a servant leader deeply conscious of his office.

He thanked the cardinals for their long and often exhausting journeys, emphasizing that their very presence was a testimony to the vitality of the Church and to humanity.

Then, in an extraordinary admission, he acknowledged his dependence on them: “You are the ones who called this servant to this mission.

” This simple phrase quietly dismantled the myth of the solitary pope.

Leadership, he conveyed, is not exercised in isolation.

It is shared, relational, and rooted in mutual responsibility.

“I need you.

Let us walk together,” he said, reframing the papacy from a model of command to one of communion.

He then asked a question that resonates far beyond the Vatican: “Is there life in our Church?” He answered emphatically: “Yes, there is life, but only if the Church refuses to fossilize.

Only if she dares to abandon the fatal sentence that everything is already done.

” Fear, he warned, blinds the Church.

In contrast, the joy of the Gospel liberates and enables the Church to act boldly and creatively in its mission.

The following morning, during Mass, Pope Leo I 14th elaborated on the meaning of the term “consistory” itself, derived from the Latin word consistere, meaning to stand still or pause.

In a culture obsessed with plans, projects, and outputs, he called for something countercultural: pause, reflection, and openness to divine guidance.

Every idea, strategy, and personal agenda must be placed on the altar of discernment so that it may be purified and transformed by grace.

He reminded the cardinals that they are not merely a board of experts but a community of faith.

Only when rooted in love can such a community guide the Church in a way that serves humanity authentically.

Pope Leo I 14th’s vision extends beyond symbolism.

He announced that another extraordinary consistory is scheduled for June 2026, around the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, with the intention of establishing these gatherings as annual events, eventually lasting three to four days.

This is an institutionalization of collegiality in its truest sense: governance rooted in shared discernment rather than hierarchical isolation.

The shift is subtle yet profound.

Authority is not abolished but relationally grounded.

A pope who governs alone may be efficient, but a pope who governs in communion fosters a Church that is truly ecclesial.

The significance of this consistory cannot be overstated.

Its impact will ripple far beyond the Vatican.

The manner in which the top leadership of the Church listens, discerns, and collaborates influences dioceses, parishes, and communities worldwide.

If cardinals learn to listen attentively to one another, bishops may be better equipped to listen to their priests.

Priests may, in turn, be more attentive to their parishioners, who may cultivate a culture of listening and dialogue within their communities.

Collegiality, Pope Leo I 14th demonstrated, is not an abstract principle confined to Rome.

It is a practical and spiritual discipline with implications for the entire Church.

The symbolism of the consistory—round tables, brief speaking intervals, unscripted reflections, and the prioritization of discernment over output—represents a fundamental reorientation of ecclesial culture.

Authority, when exercised in communion, becomes service.

Power exists not for personal aggrandizement but to protect the weakest and to accompany the faithful on their spiritual journey.

In this model, governance is not command but accompaniment, not dominance but fraternity.

Historically, the papacy has oscillated between monarchical authority and pastoral service.

Pope Leo I 14th’s approach does not reject authority but situates it within relationship.

By doing so, he challenges centuries of assumptions about the role of the pope and the nature of Church governance.

The 2026 consistory will not be remembered for any documents produced or formal decisions made.

Instead, it will be remembered for the papacy it began to construct: one of fraternity, shared discernment, and active listening.

This development is significant for the laity as well.

As Church leaders model dialogue, humility, and mutual respect, these values can cascade down to every parish and community.

Leadership rooted in communion strengthens the bonds of the Church at all levels, creating environments where listening and understanding are valued over hierarchy and bureaucratic control.

Pope Leo I 14th’s emphasis on collegiality is thus not limited to the Vatican; it serves as a template for the Church globally, fostering a culture where authority serves the mission and the weakest are protected.

In a world where institutional authority is often equated with control, the extraordinary consistory demonstrates a radically different approach: the Church thrives not when it asserts dominance but when it cultivates unity in Christ.

The pope, far from being a solitary figure, is embedded within a community of faith, dependent on the wisdom and guidance of his collaborators.

This understanding challenges not only the internal culture of the Vatican but also the broader perception of the papacy among Catholics worldwide.

By inviting cardinals of all ages, emphasizing dialogue over output, and structuring the consistory around attentive listening, Pope Leo I 14th has taken concrete steps to realize a vision of shared governance.

His repeated calls to prioritize mission and collegiality over bureaucracy underscore his conviction that the Church’s vitality depends on relationships, discernment, and courage rooted in faith.

The extraordinary consistory is therefore a milestone in the evolution of papal governance.

It signals a shift from solitary authority to shared discernment, from command to communion, from hierarchy to fraternity.

It reaffirms that the Church exists not as an institution concerned with self-preservation but as a living body animated by the Holy Spirit and focused on Christ’s mission.

By modeling active listening, inclusive dialogue, and spiritual attentiveness, Pope Leo I 14th offers a roadmap for leaders at all levels of the Church.

In conclusion, the extraordinary consistory of January 7th and 8th, 2026, represents more than a symbolic event.

It reflects a papacy that understands its authority as relational rather than unilateral, and its governance as service-oriented rather than isolated.

The emphasis on collegiality, mission, and the primacy of Christ challenges longstanding perceptions of Church leadership and offers hope for a more participatory, spiritually attentive, and globally connected Catholic Church.

The long-term effects of this consistory may not be immediately visible in documents or decrees but are likely to shape the culture of governance within the Church for generations to come.