Overview
- Pope Leo XIV joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other church leaders at the İznik archaeological site to commemorate the Council of Nicaea’s anniversary.
- The gathering featured the public recitation of the Nicene Creed with participants from Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant and Eastern Catholic communities.
- In his address, the pope urged Christians to reject using religion to justify war, violence or fanaticism and to choose dialogue and cooperation.
- According to the Vatican schedule, he flew by helicopter to İznik and returned to Istanbul for a private meeting with Turkey’s bishops as the trip proceeds toward Lebanon.
- Earlier in Istanbul, he encouraged Turkey’s small Catholic community and highlighted service to migrants, while a brief protest by the New Welfare Party near the İznik venue dispersed under police oversight, and the Moscow Patriarchate did not take part.