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Pope Leo XIV Launches Vatican II Catechesis and Opens Consistory to Set Near-Term Agenda

Cardinals prioritized missionary and synodal themes over liturgy to guide the next two years.

Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV meets Cardinals and Bishops at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Overview

  • At his General Audience, Leo announced a weekly series rereading the Second Vatican Council’s documents and called the council’s teaching the Church’s guiding star.
  • He urged Catholics to study the texts directly, noting the passing of the generation that lived the council and warning against relying on hearsay or later interpretations.
  • Leo opened a two‑day extraordinary consistory on Jan. 7–8 to consult the College of Cardinals in broad discernment on governance and pastoral direction.
  • After asking cardinals to select two of four topics, the meeting chose a missionary and synodal focus over liturgical questions or curia reform, with the Latin Mass not a primary theme, according to the Vatican spokesman.
  • The discussions include application of Pope Francis’ key reform documents and a renewed, text‑based implementation of Vatican II across church life, with Leo underscoring continuity with recent popes.