Pope Leo XIV has summoned all 245 cardinals from around the world for a historic two-day meeting at the Vatican, marking the first such gathering since his election as Pope. The meeting will take place behind closed doors on Wednesday and Thursday.
This extraordinary synod responds to requests from the cardinals for a more collective leadership of the Catholic Church, sources at the Vatican told the French News Agency. The cardinals, whether based in Rome or spread across five continents, have been invited to participate in discussions aimed at shaping the future direction of Church administration.
During his 12-year tenure, Pope Francis faced criticism for a management style often seen as personalized and, at times, authoritarian, with only one prior extraordinary session convened that included about ten cardinals.
The Pope has the authority to convene regular public sessions, primarily for the inauguration of new cardinals, as well as extraordinary sessions where all cardinals gather to discuss critical issues affecting the Church.
