Pope Leo urges the Orthodox to restore visible church communion

Private audience of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Vatican on June 28, 2025. Photo: VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Leo XIV confirmed the Vatican's commitment to rapprochement with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He stated this on June 28, 2025, at a meeting with a delegation led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, chairman of the Synodal Commission for Relations with the RCC, reports the Vatican website.

The Pontiff noted that this is the first meeting with the Constantinople delegation since the beginning of his pontificate. According to him, the annual exchange of delegations between Rome and Constantinople is "a reflection of the fraternal bond that united the Apostles Peter and Andrew."

Leo XIV emphasized his aspiration "to restore full visible communion between our Churches". This goal, he said, is achievable only with God's help, through a continued commitment to respectful listening and fraternal dialogue.

"I am open to any suggestions that you may offer in this regard, always in consultation with my brother Bishops of the Catholic Church who… share with me the responsibility for the complete and visible unity of the Church," concluded the Pontiff.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier Pope Leo expressed willingness to seek the unified date for celebrating Easter.

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