Next Jubilee Year 2033 Announced by Pope Leo XIV Challenged by a Rift Between Russia's Orthodox and the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Pope Leo XIV has set his sights on a historic pilgrimage to Jerusalem’s Upper Room to mark the 2033 Jubilee of Redemption. However, his call for "full unity" at the Church of Mor Ephrem in Istanbul served to highlight a deepening chasm within the Orthodox world rather than a bridge across it.
The patriarchate of Constantinople did not invite the Russian Orthodox Church. The oldest Orthodox churches were invited, which include the patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.
“Catholics invite Catholics, and Orthodox invite Orthodox,” he said. “The decision not to invite the largest Orthodox church in the world was theirs to make, and I respect the decision of the Orthodox. “I respect the decision of the Orthodox,” Koch said.
The tensions between the Patriarchates of Moscow and Constantinople came to a boil in 2018, when Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople granted self-governing status to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
While the meeting was intended to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the absence of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) loomed larger than the presence of those in attendance.
The Great Invitation Snub
The ecumenical gathering, co-hosted by Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, revealed the raw nerves of internal Eastern Orthodox politics. Cardinal Kurt Koch confirmed to Crux that the invitations for the Iznik service were handled by Constantinople—and Moscow was pointedly left off the list.
This exclusion is the latest chapter in a bitter jurisdictional and theological feud:
Moscow vs. Constantinople: Tensions have reached a breaking point over the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, leading to a break in communion between the two "Rome" rivals.
The "Fernández Factor": The Russian Patriarchate has grown increasingly hostile toward Rome following the 2023 document Fiducia supplicans, which Moscow cited as a departure from traditional Christian morality regarding the blessing of same-sex couples.
The Geopolitical Wedge: The ongoing war in Ukraine has turned ecumenical dialogue into a minefield, with Moscow increasingly isolated from the Western-aligned Patriarchates.
A Journey to 2033—Without All Aboard?
Leo’s motto, In illo Uno unum ("In that One, one"), was meant to signal a trajectory toward the 2,000th anniversary of the Resurrection. Yet, the Pope’s own remarks acknowledged the fractured reality. In a statement released by the Holy See, Leo pointedly "assured prayers" for those "Churches unable to be present," a clear nod to the empty chairs belonging to the Russian envoys.
| Key Obstacles to the 2033 Vision | Context |
| Intra-Orthodox Schism | Moscow refuses to recognize the primacy of Constantinople. |
| Theological Divergence | Eastern critics view recent Vatican doctrinal notes as "liberalizing" the faith. |
| Political Alignment | The Vatican’s stance on global conflicts continues to strain ties with the East. |
The "Upper Room" Resemblance
By invoking the Upper Room—the site of both the Last Supper and Pentecost—Leo is attempting to return to the "source" of Christian identity to bypass modern bureaucracy. However, as the 2033 Jubilee approaches, the "spiritual journey" he envisions remains blocked by a geopolitical and ecclesiastical wall that shows no signs of coming down.
While Leo XIV wrote of "celebrating the faith we share together" in the Mor Ephrem Book of Honor, the reality in Istanbul suggests that for the Orthodox world, the "faith shared" is currently being overshadowed by the "unity lost."
Source: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2025/11/leo-xiv-hopes-to-mark-2033-jubilee-of-resurrection-in-jerusalem
https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2025/11/why-moscows-absence-from-turkey-events-was-conspicuous-and-significant
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