Pope Leo XIV Joins Christian Leaders in Turkey to Commemorate Council of Nicaea Anniversary

IZNIK, Turkey — November 29, 2025 — Pope Leo XIV joined Eastern and Western Christian patriarchs and other religious leaders Friday at the ancient site of Nicaea in Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a pivotal event in Christian history. The gathering took place on the shores of Lake Iznik, where the original council convened in A.D. 325.

The leaders recited the Nicene Creed together, a statement of faith formulated at the council that remains widely accepted among Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant denominations. Pope Leo XIV described the creed as “of fundamental importance in the journey that Christians are making toward full communion,” emphasizing the need to overcome existing divisions within Christianity.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, highlighted the creed as “a symbol not of a bare minimum; it is a symbol of the whole,” and noted that the gathering was not only to remember the past but to bear living witness to the shared faith expressed by the early church fathers.

The Council of Nicaea was convened by Roman Emperor Constantine, who had recently consolidated power after years of civil war. Although Constantine formally converted to Christianity later in life, by 325 he had begun showing tolerance toward the Christian faith. The council produced the Nicene Creed, which continues to serve as a foundational element of Christian doctrine.

This ecumenical prayer service, held near the archaeological remains of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos, was the highlight of Pope Leo XIV’s first foreign trip as pontiff. The event marked a historic moment in ongoing efforts to promote Christian unity across centuries-old divisions, including the Great Schism of 1054 that separated Eastern Orthodox and Western churches.

Officials said the gathering symbolized a shared desire among Christian leaders to nurture unity, reflecting the prayer of Jesus for his followers to be one. The ceremony at Nicaea’s site underscored the enduring significance of the creed and the hope for reconciliation among diverse Christian traditions.