Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul (@Vatican Media)
Pope Leo XIV meets and prays with Ecumenical Patriarch in
Istanbul
During his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV joins
the Ecumenical Patriarch for a prayer service at the Patriarchal Church of
Saint George in Istanbul.
By Vatican News
On Saturday, his third day in Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV
addressed the faithful at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in a prayer
service and Doxology.
In his greeting to the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople, Bartholomew I, the Pope expressed his heartfelt gratitude for
the warm reception, highlighting the continuity of fraternal bonds with his
predecessors.
“Upon entering this Church,” Pope Leo XIV said, “I
experienced great emotion, mindful that I am following in the footsteps of Pope
Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. I am also
aware that Your All Holiness had the opportunity to meet my venerable
predecessors personally, and to develop a sincere and fraternal friendship with
them based on shared faith and a common vision of the challenges facing the
Church and the world.”
The Pope reflected on the deepening of his own friendship
with the Ecumenical Patriarch, recalling their first meeting at the start of
his ministry as Bishop of Rome.
Central to the pilgrimage was the commemoration of the First
Council of Nicaea, an event that laid the foundations of Christian unity.
“Yesterday, and again this morning, we experienced
extraordinary moments of grace as we commemorated, together with our brothers
and sisters in faith, the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council
of Nicaea,” the Pope said.
He emphasized that the memory of the Council, inspired by
the prayer of Jesus that “all His disciples may be one” (cf. Jn 17:21),
encourages a renewed commitment to restore full communion among all
Christians.
Pope Leo XIV also paid homage to the Apostle Andrew, patron
saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Concluding his greeting, the Pope extended his “most fervent
good wishes” to the Patriarch and all present in celebration of the feast of
their patron saint on Sunday, underscoring the shared journey of faith that
unites the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Before a private meeting, the Pope and the Patriarch signed
a Joint Declaration reaffirming their shared commitment to Christian unity and peace.
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