VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Leo XIV will host his second major summit of cardinals Friday and Saturday (June 26-27) at the Vatican, where they are expected to address questions of war, peace and whether Catholic teaching can still rely on the centuries-old theory of a “just war” in an age of drones, nuclear weapons and artificial intelligence.
The summit, called an extraordinary consistory, invites the 241 members of the College of Cardinals to Rome with the goal of assisting and advising the pope on important church matters. An extraordinary consistory is considered among the pope’s most consequential consultations with cardinals, planned “when the special needs of the Church and more serious matters suggest it,” according to canon law.
The gathering underscores the pope’s intention to heed the cardinals’ request to be more active participants in leading the church after his election last year. Pope Benedict XVI never convened an extraordinary consistory, while Pope Francis only convened two, one in 2014 and the other in 2015. Leo has promised to hold such a gathering every year.
While Leo’s first consistory, in January, focused on missions and evangelization, the upcoming summit is meant to center on peace. With violent conflicts a …