Pope Francis is in Constantinople following the completion of his engagements in Ankara, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The highlight of today’s program for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope is their joint appearance in Nicaea to honor the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.
This important anniversary ceremony will take place on Friday at 3:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. Greece time) at the archaeological site, where the ruins of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos are located in Nicaea, Bithynia. The two religious leaders will be accompanied by heads of other Christian denominations residing in Turkey.
Their joint presence affirms that the faith of Nicaea and the decisions made at the Council of Nicaea constitute the shared foundation and experience of nearly all Christians. To this end, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had invited the predecessor of Pope Leo XIV, Pope Francis, to commemorate the anniversary together. He repeated this invitation to Pope Leo XIV at his enthronement.
Before traveling to Nicaea by helicopter, Pope Leo will visit the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Constantinople in the morning. In the evening, he will meet with the archbishops of the Vatican’s apostolic delegation.
On Saturday, November 29, at 3:30 p.m. local time, Pope Leo XIV will travel to the Phanar with his entourage, where he will be welcomed by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The two primates will then go to the Patriarchal Church of St. George, where they will celebrate a Doxology. In attendance will be the Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria; hierarchs of the Churches of Constantinople and Rome; and representatives of diplomatic missions.
The signing ceremony of the Joint Declaration is then scheduled to take place in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal House. Afterwards, the hierarchs from both sides and the other members of the papal delegation will be introduced. Then, a private meeting will take place between the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch in the patriarchal office.
The first day’s program at the Patriarchate will conclude with the Great Vespers service for the feast, which will be presided over by Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria.
Earlier that morning, the Pope will visit the historic Sultanahmet Mosque and then meet with leaders of local churches and Christian communities at the Mor Ephrem Church of the Syriac Orthodox Church. At 5:00 p.m., he will preside over a large-scale Mass at Istanbul’s indoor Volkswagen Arena.
The following morning, Sunday, November 30—the feast day of Saint Andrew—a patriarchal and synodal Divine Liturgy will be celebrated. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will preside, and Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria will concelebrate. In attendance will be the Pope of Rome, a representative of the Greek government, diplomats, and other officials.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Pope will exchange official addresses. Then, the two primates will bless the faithful from the balcony of the Patriarchal House.
On Sunday afternoon, after having lunch with the Ecumenical Patriarch, Pope Leo XIV will fly from Constantinople to Beirut for the second part of his tour.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
