Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Issue Joint Plea for Unity in TurkeyHamdi Firat BuyukSarajevoBIRNNovember 28, 202517:25 Hamdi Firat BuyukSarajevoBIRNNovember 28, 202517:25Catholic and Orthodox Church leaders call for end to religious divisions in Iznik, formerly Nicea, where the foundation of modern Christian doctrine was established.
Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, delivered a joint message of peace on Friday in Nicea, known now as Iznik in Turkey.
Pope Leo XIV (centre-left) and Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (centre-right) attend an ecumenical prayer meeting near the archaeological excavation site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos in Iznik, Nicea, 28 November 2025. Photo: EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO
At the archaeological site of the ruins of St Neophytos Basilica, Leo urged humanity to “overcome the scandal of divisions”.
The leader of the Catholic world called on Christians to embrace “the desire for unity, for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life”.
Pope Leo XIV and Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople at the prayer meeting. Photo: EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO
Patriarch Bartholomew argued that the churches are “more powerful and more credible when we are united”.
Iznik lies in northwestern Turkey, some 130 kilometres east of Istanbul. The city is the birthplace of the Nicene Creed, a unified statement of core Christian beliefs, defining Jesus as fully divine – the foundation of mainstream Christian doctrine. The Pope’s visit marked the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, an ecumenical council of Christian bishops.
Pope Leo XIV attends a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, also known as Saint Esprit Cathedral in Istanbul, 28 November 2025. Photo: EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU
The Pope and Patriarch attended a joint ecumenical prayer service and stood before icons of Christ and lit candles together.
This is Pope Leo’s first official visit abroad. After spending his first day in Ankara, he met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pope Leo XIV reviewing a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, 27 November 2025. Photo: EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT
On Friday, Leo was in Iznik and Istanbul, visiting Catholic churches, meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch, attending the Nicea commemoration and meetings other Church leaders, including the Armenian and Assyrian Patriarchs.
The Pope will visit the landmark Blue Mosque in Istanbul on Saturday, becoming the third Pope ever to visit a Muslim house of worship. Later that day, he will travel to Lebanon on the second leg of his visit.
Pope Leo XIV arrives to attend a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, also known as Saint Esprit Cathedral. Photo: EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO
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