"United we are here": Message from Bartholomew at the historic summit with the Pope in Nicaea
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV made a joint pilgrimage to the archaeological site containing the ruins of the Basilica of St. Neophytos to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council held at Nicaea.
"We return to this cradle of the Christian faith," the Ecumenical Patriarch said in his address, sending a clear message of unity and the triumph of faith and Truth. "Let us hear all the voices of the faithful for unity," he added.
Bartholomew expressed deep emotion that so many accepted the humble invitation to honor the memory and legacy of the First Ecumenical Council held here in Nicaea 1,700 years ago. He noted that despite centuries of events, upheavals, difficulties and divisions, they approach this sacred anniversary with common piety and a shared sense of hope. He emphasized that the gathering is not merely to recall the past but "to give living witness to the same faith expressed by the Fathers of Nicaea."
He underlined that Nicaea’s history testifies to eternity and to the truth that the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is true God from true God, of one essence with the Father. Those expressions, embedded in the Nicene Creed, distill and present the apostles’ faith to all. Bartholomew further said the Nicene Creed functions as a seed for the whole Christian existence — "it is not a symbol of the minimum, but a symbol of the whole."
Sending a message of unity, the Ecumenical Patriarch urged: "With the faith of Nicaea burning warmly in our hearts, let us ‘run the race’ of Christian unity."
Pope’s message
In his speech, the Pope thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for his "great wisdom and foresight" in inviting church leaders to celebrate this important anniversary together. He also expressed appreciation to the Primates and to representatives of Christian ecumenical communities who took part in the event.
Pope Leo reminded listeners that the Council of Nicaea took place in 325 AD and invited all Christians today to reflect on who Jesus Christ is for them personally. He said the Council agreed on the christological confession now called the "Nicene Creed," a formula recognized by all Christian churches and communities. The Creed, he noted, has been "fundamental to the journey of Christians toward full communion."
The Pope added that Christian unity is urgently needed in a world full of violence and conflict. "The desire for full communion among all who believe in Jesus Christ is always accompanied by the search for brotherhood among all people," he said, calling for recognition of the rights and dignity of every person regardless of nationality, citizenship, religion or personal convictions. He also defended the role of religions in serving truth and encouraging individuals to seek dialogue and mutual respect.
The ceremony and participants
The joint pilgrimage by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV took place near the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytos, south of Constantinople (modern Istanbul), as part of a historic ceremony to mark 1,700 years since the First Ecumenical Council, where the Nicene Creed was formed.
Present were the Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Theodore; the Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros; and representatives from more than 20 different churches, confessions, communities and ecclesial organizations. The Patriarchs of Antioch (John) and of Jerusalem (Theophilos) were absent.
Religious leaders processed to a platform beside the archaeological remains and stood in a semicircle before icons of Christ and of the Council, where they lit a candle. The Pope and the Patriarch were the last to arrive at the site. The visit marked the first time a Pope of Rome has visited the area.
