Unity and Reform

Pope Leo on Thursday called on the world’s Catholic cardinals to set aside internal divisions and focus on spreading a message of inclusion and unity, as he opened a high-level summit aimed at shaping the future direction of the 1.4-billion-member Church.

Speaking during a closed-door meeting at the Vatican, the new pope emphasized that the Church’s growth depends on its ability to attract new believers through a credible message of compassion, according to remarks released by the Holy See.

“Only love is trustworthy; only love is credible,” Pope Leo told the assembled cardinals. “While unity attracts, division scatters,” he added, …