Pope Leo XIV Highlights the Path to Unity at Ecumenical Encounter in Istanbul

Ecumenical Encounter at Mor Ephrem Church

The commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council continued on Saturday with a private ecumenical encounter at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem in Istanbul.

Joining Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I as leaders are representatives of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and other Christian world communions and Ecumenical Organizations: the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation, the Baptist World Alliance, the World Evangelical Alliance, and the World Council of Churches.

The meeting commenced with a hymn calling on the Spirit as the heads of Churches and Christian Communities sat down at a round table intended to allow them an uninterrupted exchange of views. Their encounter took place behind closed doors, each leader speaking briefly, followed by an address by Pope Leo.

Announcing the Joyful Message of the Incarnation

The announcement from the Holy See Press Office repeated Pope Leo’s view on the result of that Council and is the reason we have given the above announcement about the significance of the anniversary of that Council in regard to the Incarnation Lord Jesus Christ according to the Gospel.

Pope Francis requested prayers regarding the upcoming meetings in his request for prayers with regard to this, and for churches that were unable to attend, and for the Church Leaders who were present – not to forget that we are included in his prayers. Pope Leo emphasises the necessity for evangelisation and the proclaiming of the “kerygma” which is the proclamation of the gospel. Any division among Christians is simply a hindrance to the witness that they have to give.

Gazing towards Jerusalem and the Jubilee of Redemption

He is asking everyone to join him on a walk to the end of the Jubilee of Redemption—the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. His walking the actual steps will bring us back to Jerusalem (to the Upper Room) where Jesus literally washed the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper and gave the Holy Spirit to them at Pentecost.

The pope said that this pilgrimage was to arrive at complete unity referring to his motto "In Illo uno unum". Finally on the event, Metropolitan Filüksinos Yusuf Çetin, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox church of Antioch led those gathered during the Our Father.

The Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem

Before he left the Mor Ephrem, Pope Leo wrote an entry in the Book of Honor; he said: “As we gather on this historic celebration of 1,700 years since the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, let us reaffirm that our faith is one in Jesus Christ with both perfect divinity and perfect humanity. I am here to bless you and all the churches you represent and, finally, to share with you my blessings to each of you.”

The Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church was officially opened in 2023, after more than ten years of building delays due in part to COVID-19 and an earthquake. This is also the first newly built church in Turkey since the Republic was established in 1924.