BURSA, Türkiye—Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church, attended commemorative events in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Bursa on Friday, November 28, 2025, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
The Pontiff traveled to the Iznik district, the historical site of the council, to participate in a ceremony held at the Basilica of Saint Neophytos.
The First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. is considered the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church and holds profound historical and theological significance.
During the event, Pope Leo XIV used the occasion to issue a strong call for global peace and reconciliation.
“In a world scarred by violence and conflict, people everywhere are calling for peace and reconciliation,” the Pope said, emphasizing a central message of his visit.
He added a clear condemnation of extremism, stating that “religion should never be used to justify war, violence or any form of extremism or fanaticism.”
The visit to Iznik was part of Pope Leo XIV’s larger trip to Türkiye, which included previous engagements in Ankara and Istanbul.
He acknowledged the significance of the commemoration and expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Bartholomew for initiating the anniversary events.
Following his program in Iznik, the Pope was scheduled to return to Istanbul before departing for Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Sunday. (Anadolu)
