The major event in the ecclesial calendar this week is the Extraordinary Consistory, a formal meeting of cardinals which Pope Leo has summoned for 7 and 8 January. This will be his first, and such meetings take place very much as the Pope wishes. Although Pope Francis held a consistory in almost every year of his pontificate, after 2015 he reduced the discussion element, while continuing to use them primarily to create new cardinals. For ten years the world’s cardinals have been rather muzzled. They now have an opportunity to advise the Holy Father, as it is their particular task to do.