Pope Leo XIV and the patriarchs marked 1700 years of the Council of Nicaea at its location

A meeting took place in Turkey, which church circles had long viewed as a test of readiness for real dialogue. Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I arrived in Iznik, where the Nicene Creed was formed 1700 years ago. A formal anniversary — yes. But the context turned out to be broader: politics, regional security, Ankara’s relations with Europe and the Vatican.

On the lakeshore, amidst the noise of tourists and simultaneously under the azan from a nearby mosque, Christian leaders held a joint prayer for unity. No perfect speech formulas, just a gesture that speaks for itself. The Pope flew in from Istanbul by helicopter — a tight schedule, intense negotiations, but the moment in Iznik became the central episode of the visit.

Participants gathered near the excavations of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos — a place where, according to archaeologists, the council of 325 took place. Representatives of Greek, Syrian, Coptic, Armenian, Anglican, and Protestant communities appeared on the site. Turkish authorities provided enhanced security, which also reads as a message: Ankara is ready to demonstrate openness amid regional tensions.

The procession over the ruins looked like a symbolic attempt to connect East and West after decades of dogmatic and political rifts. In his speech, the Pope spoke about the creed as a living foundation, not a “frozen tecton.” The phrase is essentially aimed at easing tensions between different Christian centers without delving into theological discussions.

Erdogan separately noted the Pope’s position on Ukraine and the Palestinian issue, trying to emphasize that Ankara sees the Vatican as a partner for diplomatic dialogue. This was expressed in the Turkish leader’s usual manner: emphasis on legitimacy, the historical status of Jerusalem, and the need to contain regional escalation.

For the Vatican, this is also a step towards a new course. The first overseas trip of Leo XIV — not to Europe, not to Latin America, but to Turkey. The media emphasize that this is a clear signal: the Pope intends to strengthen dialogue where there has traditionally been more disagreement than understanding.

The gathering in Iznik became more of a philosophical mark on the calendar than a celebration. But in church diplomacy, such moments sometimes change the atmosphere faster than years of negotiations. The ruins of the basilica, different denominations, the Turkish platform, and the emphasis on unity create a foundation for moving forward — even if in small steps.

Analysts working with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean agendas are already calling the meeting a kind of “maturity test” for all regional interchurch communication. And at this point, symbolic significance sometimes turns out to be more important than official documents.

The political context is also not in the background. The war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, Turkish internal processes — all this makes the meeting not just historical but also pragmatic. It is this combination that allows the events in Iznik to fit into both religious chronicles and diplomatic ones.

That is why we continue to follow such plots in regional politics and interfaith contacts. In the last paragraph, we note the main point: such visits shape an international environment where religious leaders once again become participants in the global conversation, and it is important to talk about this in the materials of “NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency”, which record these processes for the audience of Israel and Ukrainian-Israeli readers.