His Holiness made a pilgrimage to the city of Iznik, ancient Nicaea, to remember the Council which, 1,700 years ago, defined the divine nature of Jesus Christ and spoke there before 28 representatives of other Christian denominations from East and West on the second day of his first apostolic journey.

According to Vatican News, Leo XIV called for overcoming divisions because “there is a universal brotherhood regardless of ethnicity, nationality, religion or opinion”.

Previously, during his visit to Istanbul (north), the Pope reflected before bishops, priests, religious and pastoral agents on the roots of the Christian faith, the role of small communities and the theological and pastoral challenges of the present, as well as evoking the Byzantine legacy and richness of the Eastern Churches present in Türkiye.

Also in Istanbul, he visited the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home, where he thanked nuns, workers and residents for their dedication and service.

On the eve of his arrival in this capital, he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before whom he highlighted the country’s role as a bridge between cultures, according to the national press.

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