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Pope Leo XIV Summons Cardinals for Emergency Two-Day Meeting

Published January 7, 2026, 11:15
Pope Leo XIV Summons Cardinals for Emergency Two-Day Meeting

Pope Leo XIV has summoned an emergency meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, lasting two days. All 245 cardinals from around the world are participating in the meeting. This move comes in response to a request for more collective governance of the Catholic Church, which was made before the election of Pope Leo XIV. The synod will be held behind closed doors, underlining the importance of discretion and focus on discussions. Pope Leo XIV's decision to convene such a synod signals a possible change in the approach to Church governance, with an emphasis on collaboration and collective decision-making. His predecessor, Pope Francis, had been criticized for his more personal and authoritarian administration.