Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Turkey in 2025. The reason for this would be to celebrate together with the Eastern Orthodox Church the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council in history.
Nikos Tzoitis
Advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Rome
Bartholomew proposed holding it at Nicaea, in present-day Turkey. The ruins of the first ecumenical council are there. However, I can say that this is an important event and preparations have already begun, efforts are underway and speeches are being prepared.
There has yet to be official confirmation from the Vatican, but this possibility was pointed out by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople himself.
graphic effects
Pope Francis wishes to celebrate this important anniversary with us and will travel to our country to visit the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Then we will travel together to Nicaea, Iznik for the important historical celebration of this anniversary.
If this trip were to take place, the world would see such important images of ecumenism. These were taken during the Pope's visit to Turkey in 2014, on the feast day of St. Andrew, the first Patriarch of the Orthodox Church.
pope francis
The only thing that the Catholic Church desires and that I, as the Bishop of Rome, the Church that presides over in charity, that I seek is communion with the Orthodox Church.
Since then, Pope Francis has set an example with several ecumenical actions. He reinstated the title of Western Patriarch in the 2024 Papal Yearbook. For the Orthodox Church, the Pope has historically been a Patriarch, although the official reason for this title is unclear.
Looking ahead to 2025, another gesture of communion between Catholics and Orthodox Christians is being considered: celebrating Easter on the same day. It is currently held on two different dates due to differences between the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
This is one of the long-standing wishes of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew. Since 2025 will be a jubilee year for both churches, a dialogue on this issue will take place at next year's meeting between the two churches.
california
