Pope Leo opened a two-day summit of cardinals in Rome, urging unity and a renewed focus on outreach to attract new believers to the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church. He signalled continuity with reforms begun under Pope Francis aimed at greater inclusion, including outreach to gay Catholics and conversations about women's ordination. The pope asked cardinals for advice on priorities for the next two years and asked that discussions remain private to enable frank debate.
Pope Leo Urges Unity and a More Inclusive Church, Signals Continuity With Francis' Reforms
Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, on Epiphany at the Vatican, January 6, 2026. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
VATICAN CITY, Jan 8 (Reuters) — Pope Leo convened the world's cardinals on Thursday for a two-day summit at the Vatican, urging senior clerics to set aside internal divisions and focus on attracting new believers to the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.
Opening the closed-door meeting on Wednesday, Leo said the Church will grow only if it offers a clear, welcoming message of God’s love for everyone. "Only love is trustworthy; only love is credible," he told the assembled cardinals. "While unity attracts, division scatters."
"Only love is trustworthy; only love is credible. While unity attracts, division scatters." — Pope Leo
Observers say the pope also signalled his intention to press ahead with reforms associated with the late Pope Francis, who sought to make the Church more inclusive — including outreach to gay Catholics and conversations about women’s ordination — and who faced opposition from some conservative cardinals.
Summit Details and Attendance
The Vatican said 170 of the world’s 245 cardinals attended the summit, which concludes on Thursday. Leo, formerly U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected pope in May after Francis’ 12-year papacy ended with his death in April.
A combination image shows Pope Francis opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the opening of the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee, on December 24, 2024 (left), and Pope Leo XIV closing the Holy Door on the Feast of the Epiphany, marking the official end of the Jubilee Year 2025, on January 6, 2026 (right), at the Vatican. REUTERS/Remo Casilli and Yara Nardi
Confidential Discussions and Appeals for Unity
Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the cardinals were asked not to publicly discuss the meetings so that frank and open conversations could take place. During the session, Leo asked for advice on what priorities he should pursue over the next two years as he begins his first full year as pope.
Voices at the Summit
Massimo Faggioli, a scholar of Vatican affairs at Trinity College Dublin, said Leo is working to persuade the cardinals to act collectively to meet the expectations of the faithful. "Leo is cautious, but I think he will continue on Pope Francis' trajectories," Faggioli said.
British Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe urged colleagues to avoid internal quarrels, warning, "If they quarrel with one another, we shall be of no use to the Holy Father." The appeal underscored the pope's emphasis on unity as central to the Church's mission.
(Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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