Carmen Álvarez Cuadrado
When Pope Leo XIV became pope, he did as the cardinals asked when they voted for him in the Sistine Chapel: to be listened to. During his first meeting with them in May 2025, he said:
There will be a second part, similar to the opportunity that many of you had requested: a kind of dialogue with the College of Cardinals to listen to advice, suggestions, proposals, and specific questions that have been discussed in the days prior to the conclave.
Each pope has his own way of governing the Church. Francis, for example, used the Council of Cardinals as his trusted advisors.
ANDREA GAGLIARDUCCI
Vaticanist
This is no longer the case. Pope Francis had his G7, G8, G9, depending on how many cardinals there were, let's say C7, C8, C9. Leo says: "Let's all talk together and then I will decide." But the difference is mostly there, in being together, not in the method.
The method is the synodal one: working in groups, in dialogue, together with a moderator. It's a method used widely in American companies, but it still needs to be perfected in the Vatican.
ANDREA GAGLIARDUCCI
Vaticanist
There has been a bit of dissatisfaction because generally a cardinal prefers to take the floor personally, take responsibility for what he says, and do it in front of the Holy Father. I wouldn't give it the weight of the controversy between progressives and conservatives, but because, simply, it is an organizational matter and because, objectively, barely a year of the pontificate has passed. The transition is not over.
Regarding the topics, the liturgy is not up for discussion. Which is interesting given the schism with the Lefebvrians and the fact they risk excommunication if they go ahead with proposed ordinations on July 1.
ANDREA GAGLIARDUCCI
Vaticanist
So it is interesting that liturgy is not talked about, but there I believe the Pope has understood that the liturgical issue is an issue too divisive to be handed over to a general discussion. That is to say, there must be a response that is unitary... the Church, and the guarantor of the unity of the Church is the pope.
Because of the questions with which they will dialogue in this consistory, there seems to be an implicit request from the pope to his cardinals.
ANDREA GAGLIARDUCCI
Vaticanist
There is this great pastoral theme, which is to ask all cardinals to share their experiences. Especially from war zones, especially from difficult areas. This, in my opinion, is an important topic because it is calling the cardinals to be pastors. That is to say, to look at the flock, not to give grand speeches, "tell me how you're doing."
This consistory is not limited to active cardinals only, but to the entire college of cardinals: both electors and non-electors. Everything follows the line of Pope Leo XIV: the unity of the Church in the face of tension.
