In a historic gesture of Christian unity, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew have agreed to convene in ancient Nicaea—modern-day Iznik, Türkiye—before the end of 2025.
The announcement follows a private meeting between the two religious leaders at the Vatican on Monday, one day after the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the official inauguration of the newly-elected Pope.
According to sources from the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), the meeting will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history. Both leaders are expected to use the occasion to reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting the vulnerable and promoting global peace, continuing the spirit of cooperation fostered under Pope Francis.
Discussions are underway to possibly hold the meeting around the end of November, allowing the Pope to also visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul during the Feast of St. Andrew the First-Called—the patron saint of the Church of Constantinople.
Before his return to Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew plans to pay a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where he will offer prayers at the tomb of Pope Francis.
The anticipated meeting in Nicaea is seen as a significant step toward strengthening ties between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and comes at a time when interfaith dialogue and unity are of growing importance on the global stage.
(Source: Amna)
