About the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals

Toward the end of the Christmas season, Pope Leo XIV has summoned the world’s cardinals to Rome:

The Holy See Press Office released details of Pope Leo XIV’s first Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals, which will be held in the Vatican on January 7-8, 2026:

As the Cardinals pray and reflect together with Pope Leo XIV, the encounter will seek to foster discernment and offer “support and counsel to the Holy Father in the exercise of his lofty and weighty responsibility in the governance of the universal Church”…. 

A Consistory, which comes from the Latin “consistere” meaning “stand together,” is a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals. They can be either Ordinary, which are largely ceremonial in nature and attended by Cardinals residing in Rome, or Extraordinary. 

Extraordinary Consistories, such as the one [to be] held in January, include all Cardinals throughout the world able to travel, and allow the Pope to consult with the entire College on various issues that affect the life of the Church (Vatican News, 12/20/25).

Why Now?

While there was much talk of “synodality” during the last pontificate, I recall little mention of cardinals as advisors to the Holy Father.  Is this consistory meant to be a corrective?

One priest/canon lawyer has cited issues certainly needing Pope Leo XIV’s and the cardinals’ attention:

we have to recognize that Pope Francis taught things that no pope ever taught. And these things need to be addressed, meaning they need to be passed aside.  

And I’m speaking specifically about giving Holy Communion to people who are in adulterous second marriages. 

I’m talking about blessing homosexual couples who are living as couples and you know mimicking marriage and getting a pseudo blessing. But you can’t bless sin. 

I would also say we have to look at the unicity of Christ and we have to reexamine that statement that Pope Francis signed saying that God wills all religions. uh that causes immense confusion in the world….

So I think candor and forthrightness demands that we look because in the end what is Christianity before anything else? 

It’s Christ himself and his word. He’s the eternal word as Mother Angelica taught so well…. It’s been obscured by Pope Francis. 

We have to recognize that and we have to say for the good of the church this needs to be corrected. (Canon lawyer Father Gerald Murray, 12/19/25 (12:42))

There is More!

Much can be added to Father Murray’s concerns:

• Horrific treatment of Catholics in Nigeria and China sits atop a seemingly ignored pile of  Catholic suffering.

• Outlandishness by certain Jesuits and a former Jesuit (i.e., Father Martin, we need truth & not a counterfeit “unity”, 5/7/25, The Song of Songs, the Theology of the Body, and Heal Me with Your Mouth, Catholic365, 7/21/23. and Dealing with the “Art” of Father Marco Rupnik, 2/18/24) merits assessment of whether these men (especially Father Rupnik) should continue in Holy Orders.

• The process for declarations of marital nullity should be reviewed with an eye to tightening things up.

• Pope Francis suppressed the Latin Mass and his pontificate’s novel so-called “blessings” confused treatment of so-called gay couples with Holy Matrimony. The former should be loosened up and the latter abrogated.

• In addition to so-called educational institutions, other “Catholic” institutions have long acted in inappropriate manners.  Pope Benedict XVI left us with seemingly much ignored guidance:

Art. 11. – The diocesan Bishop is obliged, if necessary, to make known to the faithful the fact that the activity of a particular charitable agency is no longer being carried out in conformity with the Church’s teaching, and then to prohibit that agency from using the name “Catholic” and to take the necessary measures should personal responsibilities emerge (Pope Benedict XVI, On the Service of Charity, 11/11/2012).

Conclusion

In the current issue of First Things, John Grondelski, PhD, offers a fitting reminder to the Holy Father and the cardinals to prioritize recapturing the culture (The Fertility Crisis Will Not Be Solved by Economics Alone).

At other times, we have approached precipices where Faith itself seemed threatened and needing major correctives (e.g., 11^th century, the Inquisition, Franz & Fani Jägerstätter).  We absolutely need Divine assistance with these challenges.

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

[Social media appeal: Hello, readers! If you think my article, or any other article at Catholic Stand, will help others better understand and/or spread the faith, please post a link to your social media account(s). Thank you!]