VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As Pope Leo XIV’s first extraordinary consistory, or gathering of cardinals, came to a close, he announced plans to hold a second one in June on the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, and once every year, signifying plans to further include cardinals in the leadership of the Catholic Church.
About 170 cardinals met at the Vatican on Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 7 and 8). They focused on themes of synodality and evangelization — topics they discussed divided into 21 groups seated around tables. Representatives for nine of the groups — which included members of the curia, voting cardinals and nuncios — briefed the pope on the discussions after each session. All other groups sent their reflections to the pope via email.
“The pope did more listening than talking,” said Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, during a press conference at the Vatican on Thursday evening.
He said that Leo brought a notebook to the meeting, leading David to believe that the pope might be preparing some future document. “He was taking down notes very, very seriously. He must be up to something,” he said.
Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio of Colombia said the decision to h …