Pope Leo XIV convened with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I and other ecumenical leaders Friday at Lake Iznik in Turkey, site of the AD 325 Council of Nicaea, to commemorate its 1700th anniversary through joint prayer for Christian reunification.
Standing amid ruins of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos submerged until recent excavations the leaders recited the Nicene Creed, which Leo called "of fundamental importance" for overcoming divisions toward full communion.
The gathering marked the highlight of Leo's first international trip as pontiff, symbolizing East-West solidarity before the 1054 Great Schism over papal primacy severed churches once united at Nicaea. Bartholomew hosted the event near the partially submerged basilica foundations, emphasizing united witness amid global conflicts; Leo urged rejecting divisions for which Jesus prayed.
Leo praised Bartholomew's initiative, thanking attending Christian leaders despite reduced Orthodox presence from Moscow-Constantinople tensions, positioning Nicaea as a milestone for reconciliation.