Pope Leo XIV’s June consistory to focus on ‘just war’ theory, synodality, encyclical – not liturgy

VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — A newly disclosed letter shows that Pope Leo XIV’s extraordinary consistory on June 26–27 will now focus on global challenges, his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, and the Synod on Synodality rather than liturgical questions.

At midnight on June 4, the Italian blog Messainlatino – and subsequently Vatican journalist Diane Montagna – published a letter sent on June 3 by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, to members of the Sacred College. The document details the subjects that will be discussed when cardinals gather for the consistory at the Vatican on June 26 and 27. According to the letter, the meeting will concentrate on the international situation facing both the world and the Church, themes contained in the Pope’s new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, and the implementation of the Synod on Synodality. The agenda does not explicitly include a discussion of liturgical matters, as previously reported.

“As was already experienced at the previous gathering, this occasion is intended above all as a space for mutual listening, discernment, and shared reflection on certain matters of importance for the life and mission of the Church at the present time,” Re wrote to the cardinals.

“The working sessions will be structured around four principal themes, distributed over the course of the various days,” the letter continues. “The first session will take the form of a shared meditation on the international situation…. The sharing will be guided by two questions: What sufferings, tensions, and questions are today affecting with greatest force the peoples and ecclesial communities entrusted to your care? What signs of hope, fidelity to the Gospel and possible reconciliation do you consider important to place before our common reflection?”

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The second and third sessions will focus on Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo’s inaugural encyclical focusing on artificial intelligence. One session will examine chapter five of the document, entitled “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love,” particularly paragraphs 182 through 192. The letter states that participants will discuss the spread of polarization, violence, and conflict, while reflecting on practical ways to promote peace.

Notably, according to Re, the Pope wishes to focus the discussion with the cardinals on a highly debated and divisive topic – one that has stirred controversy even before the publication of the encyclical on AI.

“In particular, we shall be invited to reflect on how best to reaffirm today that the ‘just war’ theory, which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated,” the cardinal dean wrote.

The third session dedicated to Magnifica Humanitas will address themes connected to the “common good.” According to the letter, participants will explore the encyclical’s call to interpret contemporary social and cultural changes “in the light of the Gospel and to direct the human desire for happiness and fulfilment toward integral human development.”

“In the final session, an initial period will be devoted to updating the members of the College on the process of implementation of the Synod…. This will be followed by a period of free dialogue between the members of the College and the Holy Father, with interventions limited to three minutes,” the letter concludes.

Re also provided practical details concerning the gathering. The working sessions will take place in the Paul VI Audience Hall and the Synod Hall on June 26 and 27. The event will conclude on June 29 in Saint Peter’s Basilica, where Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, bless the pallia, and confer them upon newly appointed metropolitan archbishops. Re additionally noted that a concelebrated Eucharistic liturgy previously expected for June 28 will not take place.

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Pope Leo XIV has expressed his intention to mark his pontificate with a series of regular meetings with cardinals and representatives of episcopal conferences worldwide, aimed at strengthening the collegial and synodal dimension of his ministry.

The first Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals was held on January 7-8 this year. The topics announced in advance included synodality, mission “in the light of Evangelii Gaudium,” the liturgical question, and the relationship between local Churches and the Holy See “in light of Praedicate Evangelium.” However, only synodality and mission were actually addressed, while liturgy and governance were deferred to a future, unspecified meeting.

Although liturgy was not among the subjects discussed, Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, circulated a report defending the current restrictive discipline on the Traditional Latin Mass according to Pope Francis’ motu proprio Traditionis Custodes. Meanwhile, recent interventions challenging Catholic Tradition by progressive cardinals such as Marc Ouellet, Francesco Coccopalmerio, and Jean-Claude Hollerich have kept alive the debate on ecclesial jurisdiction and the relationship between the Holy See, local Churches, and the laity.