Cardinal Dew has positive take on consistory with Pope Leo

Pope Leo XIV called a consistory of cardinals for early January. “He also told us that he will invite us to go back to Rome again in June of this year,” Cardinal Dew wrote in a reflection published by the Archdiocese of Wellington.

Because the consistory lasted for only two days, the cardinals decided to discuss two of the topics suggested – synodality and Evangelii Gaudium – on the Church’s missionary character. The cardinals decided it would not be possible to do justice to other topics suggested in the time available.

“It just seemed that it was more urgent, with the time we had, for us to pray about and discuss synodality and preaching the Gospel,” Cardinal Dew wrote.

The former Archbishop of Wellington offered some thoughts on the other topics – liturgy and the role of the Roman Curia and its relationship with the particular Churches – in his reflection.

The consistory was “two days well spent, and it was the first time I had been involved in Rome in using the synodal process and engaging in the ‘Conversations in the Spirit’ process. It was powerful, respectful and obviously centred in prayer”.

“I was personally thrilled to know that synodality had come though very clearly as a topic to be addressed. This signalled to me that there is a new approach to decision-making, to sharing and listening, and that it is very much directed by the Holy Spirit.

“I was aware of the words of Pope Francis saying that what he wanted was, ‘A Church sensitive to the least breath of the Holy Spirit, a Church that was open to being led by the unpredictability of grace’.”  

The January meeting was very positive, Cardinal Dew wrote, “and gave me the assurance that if we are to be sensitive ‘to the least breath of the Holy Spirit’, then listening is essential. I witnessed a Pope who listens intently, and I experienced the College of Cardinals listening to one another in a whole new way. Synodality is clearly on the agenda for the Church today”.

During prayer and reflection, the cardinals were very aware of conflicts and wars, poverty, effects of climate change, the disparity between the rich and the very poor and “we were all convinced that the world needs to hear and experience the Good News of the Gospel”, Cardinal Dew said.

He noted the teaching of previous popes that the Church grows by attraction, recalling something Pope Leo said to the cardinals: “The question for each one of us is: ‘What do we do and how do we live in such a way to attract others to Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life?’”

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Cardinal Dew Reflections on the January Consistory (Archdiocese of Wellington)