Pope Leo's appeal: more justice, love and peace
The Pontiff said this in the first general audience of the new year just hours before the start of the extraordinary consistory he had convened to discuss future reforms for the Church with cardinals from around the world
Key points
"Let us make our journey to rediscover the teachings of the Second Vatican Council; let us welcome the past with its rich tradition; let us consider the present with its joys and sorrows; and let us look to the future with an urgent appeal for greater justice, love and peace." Pope Leo said this at the General Audience, greeting the English-speaking faithful. "In the face of today's challenges, we are called to remain attentive interpreters of the signs of the times, joyful heralds of the Gospel, courageous witnesses of justice and peace," the Pope said at the first general audience of the new year, held in Paul VI Hall, just hours before the start of the extraordinary consistory he had convened to discuss future reforms for the Church with cardinals from around the world.
Vatican Council II polar star of the Church's journey
The new cycle of catechesis will be dedicated to the Second Vatican Council and the re-reading of its documents. The Pontiff, recalling that sixty years have just passed since the Second Vatican Council, spoke of it as the "polar star" of the Church: "Although the time that separates us from this event is not so great, it is equally true that the generation of bishops, theologians and believers of Vatican II is no longer here today. Therefore, while we feel the call not to extinguish its prophecy and to still seek ways and means to implement its insights, it will be important to get to know it again closely, and to do so not through 'hearsay' or the interpretations that have been given of it, but by rereading its Documents and reflecting on their content. It is in fact the Magisterium that still constitutes the polar star of the Church's journey today'.
Christians are called to be promoters of justice and peace
Christians are "called to be promoters of justice and peace in holiness", Pope Leo XIV stressed during the Wednesday general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, greeting the Portuguese-speaking faithful.
Concistory, cardinals recommended to re-read Francis' reform texts
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of 7 January, the extraordinary Consistory, desired by the Pope, will be held. The cardinals are rereading two documents in particular, Evangelii gaudium and Praedicate evangelium. The promo was Pope Francis' first major document (an apostolic exhortation), in fact his manifesto of Bergoglio's outgoing Church published at the beginning of his pontificate in November 2013. The second contains the reform of the Roman Curia released on 19 March 2022. "We have been recommended to reread these texts as preparation for the meeting," stressed one cardinal.
