Consistory: Day 1 in Review
Large questions remain over who actually is responsible for organizing the consistory, and thus who is actually most influential.
VATICAN CITY (Pelican+) — Vaticanists have been left with one main question following the end of the first day of the consistory — who organized the event?
The consistory, essentially one and a half days, was billed as having four main themes: Evangelii Gaudium, Praedicate Evangelium, synodality and the liturgy. But the cardinals today were told upon arrival that they were to pick two to focus on, due to time limitations.
Why not make the consistory longer? A common sense question to which no answer is forthcoming.
Their selection was not down to a basic free vote, but was rather chosen by groups. Here’s how it played out.
After entering the New Synod Hall, cardinals were treated to a reflection by Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP. His was a relatively benign speech, although the very fact he was chosen to continue the role he held in the Synod on Synodality is poignant. For instance, only this week an interview emerged in which he called for the Church to move swiftly forward with female deacons – thus contradicting unchanging doctrine and Tradition.
Following his reflection, cardinals were divided into two halves. The first was made up of local bishops and nuncios, all of whom are cardinal electors thus under the age of 80. The second was comprised of the Roman Curia and all those cardinals over the age of 80.
The first half was then divided into 9 round tables, and the second into 11 tables. They voted for the selection of themes by tables. There are 170 cardinals who have made it to the consistory, including Hong Kong’s emeritus Cardinal Joseph Zen.
As to who organized this, and who organized the predetermined seating at the tables – the Holy See Press Office could not say, but given the prominence of Cardinal Mario Grech at the main platform today, it is likely to have been his Synod Secretariat office which was responsible.
Thus the two themes chosen were synodality and Evangelii Gaudium, the latter of which the Vatican Press Office opined would include the discussion of liturgy.
In one swift action the efficacy of the consistory seems to have been undermined, with cardinals no longer to readily address the entire assembly on key issues – such as the traditional Latin Mass.
Other elements of note include the figures who joined Pope Leo XIV on the main stage as coordinators and leaders of the consistory. These included:
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça – the pro-LGBT prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
Cardinal Mario Grech – the general secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod.
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