His Holiness Pope Leo XIV continued his apostolic visit to Turkey, which coincides with the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
In a gesture that strengthens fraternal ties between the two churches, the Pope visited the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul—the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate—on Saturday afternoon, where he participated in the chanting of the “Great Doxology” in the presence of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
The Supreme Pontiff delivered a heartfelt address, expressing deep gratitude to Patriarch Bartholomew for his warm welcome and kind words. He spoke of the profound emotions he felt as he walked in the footsteps of his papal predecessors who had visited this sacred place.
In the spirit of fostering fraternal friendship, the Pope emphasized that his meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew—whose friendship he has cherished since the beginning of his ministry in Rome—would further strengthen the bonds rooted in shared faith and a common vision to face the challenges confronting the Church and the world.
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the spiritual significance of the visit, noting that commemorating the Council of Nicaea together encourages a renewed commitment to the pursuit of full communion among all Christians.
He concluded his speech by expressing readiness to celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew, the patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and called for prayers “for the steadfastness of God’s holy Churches and the unity of all.” He also extended his warmest greetings to the Patriarch and all those present on the occasion of the feast.