The Extraordinary Consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV began on Friday, June 26, with the celebration of the Eucharist in St. Peter’s Basilcia with the Pontiff inviting the Cardinals to reflect on the true freedom of faith and the gift of peace, stressing that “war is never worthy of humanity, and it is never blessed by God.”
The first session of Pope Leo XIV’s Extraordinary Consistory holding on June 26-27 brought together 178 cardinals, who reflected on the world’s growing social, political and spiritual challenges while reaffirming the Church’s mission to foster communion, peace and hope.
In his homily, the Pope reminded the Cardinals that the life-giving source of the Consistory is Christ Himself, as proclaimed in the Gospel: “I am the true vine” (Jn 15:1).
He explained that “the Gospel itself prepares the ground for it to bear fruit: ‘Remain in me, and I in you’ (Jn 15:4).” He then reflected on three guiding principles for discernment during these days: sharing in the true freedom of faith, asking for the gift of peace in unity, and embracing harmony through obedience.
“As we ask God to grant us strength and wisdom, it is significant that our Consistory takes place on the eve of the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Let us pause, then, to commemorate these two pillars of the Roman Catholic Church, the two missionary martyrs whose preaching became one with their lives, to the point of becoming part of Sacred Scripture,” Pope Leo said.
Secondly, Pope Leo invited the Cardinals to ask for “The gift of peace in unity.”
Reflecting on the many conflicts affecting humanity, he stressed that “war is never worthy of humanity, and it is never blessed by God, because, even if we are equipped with high-tech weapons, the Creator has endowed us with intelligence and free will to resolve conflicts as human beings and not as beasts.”
The Pope then added that “peace is a duty of justice because we are one human family, a magnifica humanitas that finds its head and redeemer in Christ.”
Referring to the path outlined in his first encyclical and recalling the teaching of Saint Paul VI, the Pope encouraged perseverance in building the “civilization of love,” in which justice and charity are inseparably linked.
“As she proclaims the Gospel, amid both joys and persecutions, the Church is never partial, since she is for everyone, and to each she addresses the same message of conversion and salvation,” said the Pope.
In part of the homily on ‘The true freedom of faith,’ the Pope first invited the Cardinals to allow themselves to be guided by the example of Sts. Peter and Paul, who encourage believers to “share in the true freedom of faith.”
He explained that “it is precisely our relationship with the Lord Jesus that frees us from sin and fear. As He calls us to follow Him, He sends us out into the world as successors of the Apostles.”
“Faith is that virtue—never to be taken for granted—that gives life to the Church, for it is the grace that nourishes the branches of the one vine. The living Church is the Church that believes through the gift of the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. And this Church bears much fruit,” the Pope said.
On Harmony through obedience, Pope Leo invited the Cardinals to embrace “harmony through obedience,” describing it as “a listening that recognizes the gift of the Word made flesh for us.”
Through this attentive listening, he said, “the Holy Spirit guides us, pointing out pastoral challenges and opportunities, purifying our intentions, and correcting whatever strays from our shared path.”
He highlighted in particular the ongoing implementation of the Synod, which “invites everyone to move forward in unity of faith, in promoting peace, and in obedience to Jesus, the living Word.”
The Pope concluded by underlining that “our working together in a collegial way embodies the synodality in which all the baptized participate in the unity of the People of God. Synodality and collegiality are, in fact, forms of Christian fraternity, which binds us together as the baptized and as Bishops.” (Vatican News)
