What happened at the consistory

Pope Leo XIV convened his first Extraordinary Consistory of cardinals on January 7–8, 2026 to foster shared reflection and counsel on key issues facing the Church early in his pontificate. He outlined four themes that could be discussed:

• Evangelii Gaudium (the mission of the Church in today’s world)
• Praedicate Evangelium (the reform of the Roman Curia)
• Synod and synodality (as both instrument and style)
• The liturgy (described as “the source and summit of Christian life”)

However, because of time constraints and to allow deeper discussion, Pope Leo said only two of the four topics would be debated in depth. The cardinals were asked to choose which ones they wanted to focus on. According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, a large majority selected:

• Evangelization and the Church’s missionary activity
• Synod and synodality

Why the liturgy was “sidestepped”

Because the cardinals prioritized evangelization and synodality for detailed group work, the liturgy did not become one of the two focus topics at this stage of the consistory. That outcome has led some observers—especially those devoted to the traditional Roman rite—to express concern that the liturgy has been effectively sidelined in this meeting, even though it remains on the broader agenda.

Vatican officials stressed that the liturgy isn’t excluded permanently and could still arise in discussions or be integrated into the other topics, but it won’t be one of the primary subjects discussed in depth during this consistory.

Broader context

Pope Leo’s consistory comes in the context of ongoing initiatives in the Church:

• The Synod on Synodality (a multi-year process launched under Pope Francis to enhance communion and participation in the Church) has been a major focus of recent years, and its relevance helps explain why “synodality” was chosen for deeper reflection now.
• Liturgy has been a sensitive and sometimes contentious topic, especially among Catholics devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass and older forms of worship. The way liturgical reforms and discussions have been handled in recent years has been a point of tension in some circles. (That background helps explain why some faithful had hoped it would be a central topic.)

What this means

While the liturgy remains part of the consistory’s overall agenda, it will not be the primary focus of the group’s deep discussions at this stage. Instead, cardinals will dedicate most of their time to reflecting on how the Church carries out its mission and on how synodality—as a collaborative and listening approach—can shape governance and pastoral life.

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