Pope Leo XIV convenes cardinals to address global conflicts and reimagine church strategy

Pope Leo XIV convened the second extraordinary consistory of his pontificate on 26 and 27 June, bringing together cardinals from around the world to address how global tensions, divisions, and conflicts affect the life of the Catholic Church. The gathering, held in a climate of fraternal dialogue near the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, focused on developing pastoral strategies to promote reconciliation, coexistence, and peace in a divided world.

The consistory's agenda centred on four main themes: the international situation and peace, the rejection of just war theory, the papal encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas," and the implementation of the Synod on Synodality. Participants explored central questions including how worldly tensions affect their churches and peoples, and what languages, attitudes, and practices could build reconciliation. A particular focus emerged on chapter V of the encyclical, which addressed the "culture of power" versus the "civilization of love." Pope Leo XIV had written in his first encyclical that just war theory, historically invoked to justify armed conflict, must be considered superseded in contemporary times.

The two-day session was structured according to a synodal model that had proven effective in previous church gatherings. Approximately 170 cardinal participants were divided into 20 small working groups—nine comprising ordinary cardinal electors and eleven comprising curial cardinals and non-electors. Each group was led by a president and secretary responsible for documenting contributions and producing final reports. The methodology prioritized shared listening, with individual interventions limited to three minutes to ensure broad participation and focused discussion.

Proceedings began with a papal mass at Saint Peter's Basilica on Friday morning, followed by the opening session in the Paul VI Auditorium. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered the opening address, and Polish cardinal Grzegorz Ryś offered biblical meditation on the theme "In what world are we called to proclaim the Gospel?" Subsequent sessions explored constructive responses to contemporary challenges and the concrete implementation of synodal processes within the church hierarchy.

To preserve the dialogical atmosphere and fraternal communion central to the gathering's purpose, no press coverage was permitted during proceedings, and cardinals were requested to maintain confidentiality about discussions. Saturday afternoon was reserved for direct debate with the Pope on synodal implementation and planning before dinner in the Paul VI Auditorium. The consistory demonstrated Pope Leo XIV's commitment to consulting the global cardinalate on critical ecclesiastical and global challenges, continuing a pattern established with the first extraordinary consistory held in January 2026.