Vatican Secretary of State: Pope to make his first visit to Nicaea

Pope Leo. Photo: vaticannews.va

Pope Leo XIV is considering making his first apostolic visit to Nicaea, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.

He made this statement to journalists on the sidelines of the conference "Toward a Theology of Hope for and from Ukraine", held at the Pontifical Gregorian University under the auspices of the UGCC.

“I’m thinking of Nicaea,” said the cardinal, responding to a question about the possible first trip of the new pope. “It’s an important moment for the Catholic Church, an important moment for ecumenism. It was certainly planned that Pope Francis would go there. I believe Pope Leo will follow the same path.”

The occasion is the upcoming celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which took place in 325 AD. In this context, Turkey – home to the ancient see of Nicaea (modern-day İznik) – could serve as a symbolic starting point for the new Pope’s pontificate.

Additionally, the cardinal commented on tomorrow’s peace summit in Istanbul, where, for the first time since the start of the conflict, the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet in person, with the United States acting as a mediator.

“We always hope for glimmers of peace,” said Parolin. “We are glad that a direct meeting has finally become possible. We hope it will help untie the existing knots and truly begin a path toward peace.”

As previously reported by the UOJ, the newly elected Pontiff has expressed his readiness to act as a mediator in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

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