Pope Leo Expresses Hope for 'Ecumenical' Visit to Nicaea
Patriarch Bartholomew has acknowledged Leo's invitation but has not confirmed whether he will attend.
ROME — Pope Leo XIV has announced his plan to visit Iznik, Turkey—a town built on the ruins of Nicaea—to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.
In a meeting with Archbishop Elpidophoros and representatives from the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities in America, he expressed hope to reunite for the ecumenical celebration in Turkey.
Patriarch Bartholomew noted in May that the pope had shared his intent to visit.
Bartholomew had planned to visit Iznik with Pope Francis this year around the time of Pascha. However, Francis died before the plans could be realized.
Although the Vatican has not officially confirmed the trip, it would be Leo's first international journey since his election.
