Pope announces trip to Turkey for anniversary of First Ecumenical Council

Pope (center) and Archbishop Elpidophoros (right). Photo: vaticannews.va

Pope Leo XIV has announced his intention to visit Turkey to participate in the jubilee events marking the anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.

“I hope to see you again in a few months, to take part in the ecumenical celebrations marking the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea,” said the pontiff, addressing Orthodox and Catholic clergy and pilgrims from the United States during an audience at Castel Gandolfo.

The Pope reminded the audience that “the Creed adopted by the Fathers of the Council, together with the additions made at the Council of Constantinople in 381, remains a shared heritage of all Christians and, for many, is an inseparable part of the liturgy.”

The head of the Roman Church also emphasized the importance of ecumenical dialogue: “Your pilgrimage is one of the fruits of the ecumenical movement aimed at restoring the fullness of unity among all disciples of Christ, in accordance with the words of the Savior at the Last Supper: ‘That they all may be one’ (John 17:21). These signs of communion and unity do not yet signify full unity, but they testify to the progress in theological dialogue and love that has characterized recent decades.”

The Pope also recalled the historic event of 1965, when his predecessor Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras signed a joint declaration lifting the mutual anathemas of 1054: “Before that, a pilgrimage like yours would probably have been impossible.”

Earlier, UOJ reported that the Pope had stated Rome and Constantinople must not compete over primacy.

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