Pope Leo XIV began a series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council at his first general audience of 2026 on Wednesday. The public audience, held indoors in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall due to low temperatures, took place shortly before the start of Leo’s first consultation with cardinals, called a consistory, convened for Jan. 7–8.

With Pope Leo closing the Holy Door on Jan. 6, marking the end of the Jubilee, a new era in his young pontificate has begun.

The 170 cardinals attending the extraordinary consistory called by Pope Leo XIV set the church's mission and synodality as the priorities for their two days of discussions.

Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the Christmas season Wednesday, telling believers that receiving the infant Jesus in current times also implies respecting and welcoming every human life, including migrants.

Pope Leo XIV delivered his general audience today announcing a revisit to the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Leo urged the faithful "not to let its prophecy fade, and to continue to seek ways and means to implement its insights.

"It is the Magisterium [of the Second Vatican Council] that still constitutes the guiding star of the Church's journey today," Pope Leo said, during his Wednesday General Audience, on 7 January, in the Pope VI Hall,