In this season of transition and ecclesial renewal, the Christian community watches attentively the processes guiding our universal Church. Following Pope Francis's passing in April 2025 and the election of Pope Leo XIV in May of the same year, we live in a period of grace and reflection on how to walk together as God's people. As the apostle Paul reminds us: "For we are co-workers in God's service" (1 Corinthians 3:9, NIV). This collaboration manifests especially in gatherings where the Church's shepherds seek to discern the Holy Spirit's will.
The January Consistory: A Format That Fostered Dialogue
The recent consistory held in January 2026 left us with important lessons about how we can better listen to one another within the Church. Unlike traditional formats where individual addresses to the full assembly predominated, this gathering adopted a methodology closer to the synodal spirit we've been cultivating in recent years.
The cardinals organized into smaller circles according to their native languages, allowing for deeper and less formal exchange. As in the early days of the Church, when the apostles gathered to deliberate together (Acts 15:6), these groups sought to create spaces of authentic communion and discernment. Proverbs teaches us: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22, NIV).
Diverse Voices in Our Common Home
Reactions to this new format were as varied as the Spirit's gifts in the Christian community. Some pastors especially valued the opportunity to participate in more intimate and structured dialogues, where each voice could be heard attentively. Others expressed some nostalgia for the broader debates that characterized previous consistories, where exchange among all participants was more direct and immediate.
This diversity of perspectives shouldn't surprise us, for it reflects the richness of charisms within Christ's one Body. As Scripture tells us: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them" (1 Corinthians 12:4, NIV). What matters is that, beyond forms, the sincere desire to seek together God's will for his Church prevails.
Looking Toward the June Consistory
With the announcement of a new extraordinary consistory for June 26-27, we naturally wonder what format this important meeting will adopt. Pope Leo XIV, in his brief but significant pontificate, has shown sensitivity both to ecclesial tradition and to renewal processes the Spirit inspires in our time.
Will he maintain the small-group model that allowed deeper conversations in January? Will he return to more traditional formats that facilitate exchange among all cardinals? Or perhaps, as ecclesial wisdom suggests, we'll find a middle way combining the best of both approaches. What's certain is that, as a pilgrim Church, we're called to constantly evaluate our methods in light of the Gospel and our time's pastoral needs.
The Art of Communal Discernment
Decision-making processes in the Church are never merely administrative or organizational. At their heart beats the search for communal discernment, where we listen not only to human voices but primarily to the Spirit's voice speaking through the community. Jesus promised us: "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20, NIV).
This fundamental principle must guide any format we adopt for our ecclesial gatherings. Whether in large assemblies or intimate circles, what matters most is creating spaces where the Spirit can truly speak and where we can genuinely listen to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. The upcoming June consistory represents another step in this ongoing journey of synodality—a journey not about changing doctrine but about deepening our capacity to walk together, listen together, and discern together God's path forward.
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