BREAKING Pope Leo XIV with Leaders of Ecumenical Churches at Private Meeting Choose Jerusalem in 2033 as Future Gathering for Unity


Historic Ecumenical Gathering in Istanbul Marks Nicaea 1,700th Anniversary with Future Date Set

A private ecumenical encounter was held on Saturday in Istanbul to continue the commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The significant meeting took place at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem, bringing together ecclesial leaders who represent the vast majority of the Christian world.

Key Figures and Participants

The gathering was headlined by Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. They were joined by senior representatives from numerous Christian world communions and Ecumenical Organizations, including:

  • The Eastern Orthodox Churches

  • The Oriental Orthodox Churches

  • The Anglican Communion

  • The Lutheran World Federation

  • The Baptist World Alliance

  • The World Evangelical Alliance

  • The World Council of Churches

The event was initiated with a hymn invoking the Holy Spirit as the heads of Churches and Christian Communities convened at a round table designed to facilitate their discussion. The encounter proceeded behind closed doors, featuring brief remarks from each leader, followed by a principal discourse from Pope Leo XIV.

A Focus on Incarnation and Evangelization

According to a communication from the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo XIV underscored the profound importance of the Council of Nicaea and the preceding Friday’s celebration of its anniversary, which was primarily focused on the Gospel of the Incarnation.

A central theme of the Pope's message was the primacy of evangelization and the proclamation of the “kerygma” – the Good News. He emphasized that division among Christians is a significant obstacle to their common witness to the world.

The Holy Father also requested prayers for future opportunities for dialogue and unity, including with those Churches that were unable to attend, assuring all assembled leaders of his personal prayers for this intention.

The Journey to Unity and the Jubilee of Redemption

Pope Leo XIV encouraged all to embark on the spiritual journey toward the Jubilee of Redemption—the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection—scheduled for 2033. This path, he stated, should culminate in a return to Jerusalem, specifically to the Upper Room, the site of the Last Supper and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

This shared journey, the Pope affirmed, is the one that leads to full Christian unity, recalling his personal motto: In Illo uno unum (In the One, we are one).

The proceedings concluded with the recitation of the Our Father, led by Metropolitan Filüksinos Yusuf Çetin, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.

A Message in Mor Ephrem

Before departing from the venue, Pope Leo XIV left a profound message in the Book of Honour:

“On the historic occasion in which we celebrate 1,700 years since the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, we gather to renew our faith in Jesus Christ, true God and true man, celebrating the faith we share together. I wish many blessings on all who have gathered here and on all the communities they represent.”

The Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church

The venue itself holds great modern significance: the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem was inaugurated in 2023 after a decade of construction and setbacks from the Covid pandemic and an earthquake. It is notable for being the first new Church built in Türkiye since the founding of the Republic in 1924.

Source: Vatican News

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