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As consistory opens, cardinals say liturgy, Venezuela could feature in discussion

Some cardinals have questioned the format of the Vatican meeting, preferring more open sessions

Edgar Beltrán
Jan 07, 2026
∙ Paid

As Pope Leo XIV opened the first extraordinary consistory of his pontificate Wednesday, some cardinals told The Pillar they hope for an opportunity to raise issues not formally on the agenda — including the crisis in Venezuela — while others have expressed some confusion about the consistory’s format.

Cardinals meet in small groups Jan. 7 during a consi…

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