Pope Leo XIV joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and several Eastern Orthodox bishops in modern-day Turkey at the location where Christian leaders met 1,700 years ago to shape the Nicene Creed — a foundational statement of Christian belief still recited worldwide today.
The gathering is being viewed as another major step toward restoring unity between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a process the pope recently described as “the path toward the full communion of all Christians.”
Pope Leo reflects on the Council of Nicaea and its relevance today
Speaking at the archaeological remains of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytos on the shores of Lake Iznik, the pope emphasized the enduring importance of the First Council of Nicaea, especially its response to the Arian controversy in the 4th century.
Pope Leo warned that modern believers face similar dangers, noting that some are tempted to reduce Jesus Christ to a historical hero or inspirational leader — stripping away His divine nature and creating confusion about the heart of Christian faith.
Earlier in the day, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul — where he blessed the first cornerstone for a new Catholic parish in Dallas — the pope described this trend as a form of “new Arianism,” which portrays Christ as nothing more than a wise teacher or prophetic figure.
Standing before Orthodox bishops at Lake Iznik, he said:
“If God did not truly become man, how can humanity share in His divine life? What was at stake at Nicaea — and what is at stake now — is our belief in the God who became like us so that we might become partakers of His nature.”
The Nicene Creed as a foundation for Christian unity
The pope stressed that the Christ-centered confession of the Nicene Creed remains essential for the ongoing journey toward full communion. He said that this shared profession of faith binds Christians around the world and guides them toward deeper fidelity to Scripture, mutual love, and honest dialogue.
“We are all called to overcome the scandal of the divisions that remain,” Pope Leo said. “The more we are reconciled, the more credible our witness to the Gospel becomes.”
Patriarch Bartholomew: Returning to the source of the faith to move forward
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed gratitude and emotion over the joint visit, saying he was “deeply moved” that Christian leaders returned together to the birthplace of the first ecumenical council.
The Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325, brought together hundreds of bishops to address crucial theological and liturgical issues — most notably the Arian heresy — and to affirm that Christ is “true God from true God… of one being with the Father.”
Patriarch Bartholomew stressed that their purpose was not merely to commemorate history but to bear living witness to the same faith expressed by the early Church Fathers.
“We return to this source of Christian faith in order to go forward,” he said. “The Nicene Creed is not a minimal statement — it is the seed of our entire Christian life.”
He encouraged Christians to run the race of unity with perseverance and love, quoting Scripture as he called believers to confess together the Trinity “consubstantial and undivided.”
A meeting with global significance
Speaking ahead of the event, the patriarch told Agence France-Presse that this encounter with the pope carries special weight given the conflicts and turmoil gripping many parts of the world today.