Changing times

On the 6th January 2026, Pope Leo closed the Holy Door in Rome, ending the Jubilee Year of Hope. It also symbolises a closure to  the chapter of Pope Francis’ papacy. Pope Leo was elected in May 2025 and his first concern as Pope was to complete some things begun by Pope Francis or pre-arranged on his diary. Now Pope Leo begins to promote his own vision of the life and mission of the Church.  He often quotes Popes Francis and Benedict, expressing his desire for continuity, while opening a new chapter of his own papacy with his motto “In the One we are one”. Be began with a visible and highly symbolic Consistory of the Cardinals from the 7th - 9th January. There are at present 245 Cardinals from all over the world and of these 170 attended the Consistory.  Given the short time available the Cardinals focused on two themes:  Evangelisation and Synodality in the spirit of the Vatican II council.

Pope Leo is aware that many people in the Church today are unfamiliar with the renewal set in motion by Vatican II,  held from 62 -65 AD.  Some of us elders remember the wonderful spirit that blew open our closed minds and hearts at that time.  Our own Book of the Institute came out of that spirt. It took 20 years of upheaval, experimentation and many drafts for the Infant Jesus Sisters to rewrite our Constitutions.  They were approved on the 21st November 1986.  They are still relevant today.

Pope Leo  asked the Cardinals,  and all of us,  to read or reread the 16 documents of the Council which changed our attitude and understanding of the  Word of God, the Church,  the Liturgy, the world, other Faiths and mission activity. 

As we continue our own journey of faith in this fragmented and threatened world, it would give us hope and direction to read some of these documents.  Why not begin now with one of your choice? 

Christ calls us to Himself to share in His Life and unite ourselves with His mission ( B.I 4)

We are called to become instruments of the Holy Spirit Who is at work in us, in the people to whom we are sent and in their history (B.I 7)

We are open to what is new or in the process of growth or renewal in the Institute.  Through our prayer we support the missionary efforts of the Church as a whole. (B:I 48)