Pope Leo XIV's First Extraordinary Consistory Addressed Curia Reform and the Role of the College of Cardinals

The cardinals of the Catholic Church met at the Vatican for the first extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV since the beginning of his pontificate, a meeting considered essential for outlining the reform directions of the current Sovereign Pontiff. According to Chatolica, the proceedings took place over two days. The agenda of the consistory included the reform of the administrative apparatus of the Holy See, as well as the functioning and role of the College of Cardinals in the life of the Catholic Church, topics of major interest at a time of transition and institutional recalibration at the Vatican. This was the first official meeting of all cardinals under Pope Leo XIV and took place exactly eight months after the beginning of his pontificate, during which the new pope repeatedly conveyed messages regarding the need for administrative efficiency, transparency and strengthening of collegial collaboration in the governance of the Church.

The consistory represents one of the fundamental institutional forms of consultation and collaboration within the Catholic Church. It aims to strengthen the communion between the bishop of Rome - the pope - and the cardinals who are called to collaborate in a special way in the leadership and orientation of the universal Church. Throughout recent history, extraordinary consistories have been used to address major issues of reform, doctrinal challenges or institutional reorganizations. In this context, the meeting convened by Pope Leo XIV is seen as a clear signal of the intention to open a broad process of reflection and adjustment of the Vatican's governance mechanisms.

Vatican observers consider that the discussions on the reform of the Roman Curia and the redefining of the role of the College of Cardinals mark one of the central directions of this pontificate, especially in a Church under the pressure of contemporary social, cultural and geopolitical challenges.