Bear witness to the Gospel through reconciliation, says Pope at Nicaea
Pope Leo XIV called Christians to overcome ‘the scandal of divisions’ and to renew their commitment to unity, as well as interfaith fraternity and dialogue.
The Pope commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea on 28 November in the Turkish city of Iznik, historically known as Nicaea.
He spoke during an ecumenical prayer service held at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos on the shore of Lake Iznik, southeast of Istanbul. The gathering was one of the most symbolic moments of his apostolic visit to Turkey, which has focused on ecumenical and interreligious outreach.
“We are all invited to overcome the scandal of divisions,” he said, urging Christians to nurture “the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life”.
Pope Leo and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, were welcomed by two senior Orthodox bishops before proceeding to a platform beside the submerged ruins of the basilica. The two leaders stood before icons of Christ and of the council and lit candles together.
Iznik is located about 130km southeast of Istanbul. The remains of an early Christian basilica dedicated to St Neophytos, a young martyr killed in 303AD during the persecutions of Diocletian, were first identified in 2014 after aerial photographs revealed the outline of a submerged church. The basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740, and its ruins are now visible from the shore.
In his homily, Leo said the anniversary was “a precious opportunity to ask ourselves who Jesus Christ is in the lives of men and women today, and who he is for each one of us personally”. He cautioned against reducing Christ to “a kind of charismatic leader or superman”, recalling Arius’ denial of Christ’s divinity and the council’s defence of the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus.
“If God did not become man, how can mortal creatures participate in his immortal life?” the Pope asked, emphasising what was at stake in the fourth-century debate.
Leo said the Nicene Creed remains a foundation for unity among Christians worldwide. Quoting the creed, he underlined the proclamation of Christ as “consubstantial with the Father”, describing it as “a profound bond already uniting all Christians”. Citing St Augustine, he added, “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”
A reconciled Christianity, he continued, can “bear credible witness to the Gospel” and offer “a proclamation of hope for all”.
The Pope also extended his appeal for fraternity beyond the Christian world, insisting that authentic recognition of God as Father requires honouring all people as brothers and sisters. He warned against using religion “to justify war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism”, and called instead for “fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation”.
Pope Leo’s schedule in Turkey includes a series of ecumenical events, among them the signing of a joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I on 29 November at the Patriarchal Palace. His trip also includes an interreligious dimension. Earlier on Friday he met the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, discussing the visit as a sign of peace and support for all religious communities. On Saturday he will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
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