At the start of the second day of the Extraordinary Consistory, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass with Cardinals gathered from across the world, framing their meeting as a moment of grace and shared responsibility for the Church’s future. In his homily, the Pope emphasized that the Consistory is not merely a working session but a spiritual pause rooted in fraternal love and unity. He reflected on the meaning of the word consistory, recalling its origin in the act of stopping, and noted that the Cardinals had set aside their ordinary duties to come together in prayer and discernment. In a world marked by speed and constant activity, this deliberate pause was described as a prophetic gesture, allowing Church leaders to refocus their mission on listening to what the Lord asks for the good of His people.
Pope Leo stressed that the gathering was not meant to advance individual or collective agendas, but to place all plans before Christ so they may be purified and transformed. He reminded the Cardinals that their College is not primarily a body of experts, despite the many skills and experiences present, but a community of faith. Each gift, he said, is offered to the Lord and returned according to divine providence for the benefit of the whole Church. By anchoring discernment in the Eucharist, the Pope invited the Cardinals to allow Christ to shape their vision and decisions. This approach, he noted, helps prevent blind action and grounds pastoral responsibility in humility, gratitude, and trust.
The Pope further called the Cardinals to turn this moment of stopping into an act of love toward God, the Church, and humanity. He urged them to look at one another with sincerity, listen attentively, and become a voice for those entrusted to their pastoral care. Acknowledging the weight of their shared responsibility, he described the Consistory as an act to be lived with a humble and generous heart, aware that all they carry is received as a gift. Drawing on the witness of the Church’s tradition, he recalled the call to cooperate in the same Spirit so that human needs are met and no one seeks personal interest over the common good.
In closing, Pope Leo reflected on the multifaceted beauty of the Church, visible in the unity of grace and faith represented by the Cardinals gathered together. He encouraged them to remain attentive to the desire for peace present in a world marked by suffering and uncertainty, and to help distribute the gifts that divine providence continues to offer. Thanking the Cardinals for their service, he acknowledged the gravity of the responsibility they share with him and entrusted their work to the Lord. The Mass set a contemplative and pastoral tone for the day’s discussions, reinforcing the Consistory as a shared journey of discernment rather than a search for immediate conclusions.
