By Micah Jonah
January 8, 2026
Pope Leo on Thursday urged Catholic cardinals from around the world to shun internal divisions and work towards building a more inclusive Church, as he opened a two day summit at the Vatican.
Addressing senior clerics behind closed doors, the Pope said the Church’s growth depends on its ability to attract new believers through a message rooted in unity and God’s love for all. The Catholic Church has about 1.4 billion members worldwide.
“Only love is trustworthy, only love is credible,” Pope Leo said, according to remarks released by the Vatican. “While unity attracts, division scatters.”
The Pope also signalled his intention to continue reforms introduced by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who faced resistance from conservative cardinals while pushing for a more welcoming Church, including outreach to gay Catholics and discussions around the role of women.
The summit, which began on Wednesday, ends Thursday, is attended by 170 of the world’s 245 cardinals, the Vatican said. Participants were asked not to speak publicly about the discussions to allow for open and frank dialogue.
As he begins his first full year as pontiff, Pope Leo also asked the cardinals to advise him on priorities for the next two years of his leadership.
British Cardinal, Timothy Radcliffe urged fellow clerics to avoid infighting, warning that divisions would undermine the Pope’s’s efforts and the Church’s mission.
