with the extraordinary consistory, Leo XIV inaugurates a new style of government

“I’m here to listen.” By addressing the college of cardinals, in his opening speech to the extraordinary consistory, Leo XIV printed his method. Two days after the end of the jubilee year, the pontiff gathered around him the 245 cardinals: from the afternoon of Wednesday January 7 to the evening of Thursday January 8, they gathered behind closed doors for “a moment of communion and fraternity, of reflection and sharing”.

This strong gesture reveals a mode of government already at work among the North American pope: a government based on dialogue and participation. “We must not arrive at a text, but have a conversation that helps me in my service to the mission of the entire Church.”

The extraordinary consistories, which bring together all the cardinals behind closed doors, are rarely convened by the pontiffs. Ordinary, public consistories take place for common affairs or solemn events. Extraordinaries are used to respond to “particular needs of the Church” or to study “affairs of great importance”, according to canon law. Pope Francis had only summoned one. John Paul II, six. Benedict XVI did not use it officially but had the habit of bringing together the cardinals behind closed doors before ordinary consistories.

“Synodality is the path that God expects of the Church”

For Léon, this meeting is “symbolically very important”, affirms Mgr Patrick Valdrini, professor of canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. The pope has just closed the jubilee year, the essential program of which was set by his predecessor, Pope Francis. Two days after closing the last Holy Door, he indicated more clearly the direction of his pontificate.

“This day and a half that we spend together is a foreshadowing of our path to come,” he told the cardinals on the first day. Already, he had wanted to bring them together two days after his election, on May 10, 2025. “Your presence reminds me that the Lord, who entrusted me with this mission, does not leave me alone to bear the responsibility,” he shared with them.

The college of cardinals has a consultative role, Léon will rely on it to decide. It moves forward in line with the Synod on synodality, where the call for listening and participation by all resounded. “Synodality is the path that God expects of the Church in the third millennium,” the pontiff reaffirmed before the cardinals on Wednesday.

The latter were summoned to the Paul VI room, where the synod took place. They worked according to the synodal method, divided into 20 small groups in which each spoke in turn. Each group chose two themes from the four that Léon had presented to them before Christmas: mission, relations between the Curia and the particular Churches, synodality and the liturgy. These last two themes, synodality and liturgy, were preferred by a “vast majority”, indicated the Holy See.

Lean on everyone

With more discreet interventions than Pope Francis, Leo draws a more collegial style of pontificate. “It seems to return to the extraordinary nature of the pontifical words which prevailed throughout the 20th century, to ease tensions by leaving more room for a plurality of voices,” analyzes François Mabille, researcher specializing in pontifical diplomacy. Léon will carry out his function in a less solitary manner. Francis had chosen a tighter government, surrounding himself with a restricted council of eight cardinals.

By bringing together the cardinals, he also responds to their request. “A true college cannot exist if it does not meet often,” notes Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers. “The extraordinary consistory could be frequent,” he specifies. This day and a half is a time to unite the college. “Unity attracts, division disperses,” Leo told the cardinals on Wednesday, inviting them to bear witness to the Gospel through their fraternal communion.

The exercise of authority in the Church is “a burning question today” recalls Mgr Patrick Valdrini. Collegiality – government within the college of cardinals or bishops – is a middle way between centralization in Rome and the dispersion of power in local episcopal conferences which tend to become stronger. Behind these 245 men, there are their particular Churches. “Consulting the cardinals allows the different ecclesial sensibilities in the world to be heard more in Rome,” notes François Mabille.

Léon was prior general of the Augustinian order from 2001 to 2013. He experienced “synodal” government, accustomed to making decisions with advice from religious people. This trait was anchored in his personality as a pastor and he would not leave it aside during his pontificate.