Vatican City: On the occasion of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV renewed the Catholic Church’s unwavering commitment to healing centuries-old divisions with the Orthodox Church. Addressing a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Holy Father underscored the importance of continuing a journey marked by mutual respect, dialogue, and shared apostolic roots.
This audience his first with a delegation from Constantinople since the start of his pontificate was steeped in both symbolism and substance. Pope Leo reflected on the deep spiritual connection that already unites the two Churches, noting that the annual exchange of delegations for the feast days of Saints Peter (Rome) and Andrew (Constantinople) honors the historic brotherhood of the two Apostles and affirms the Churches’ shared desire for deeper unity.
The Pope gratefully recalled the pioneering gestures of Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, whose groundbreaking meeting in 1964 in Jerusalem opened a new chapter in ecumenical relations. “Their courage and vision laid the foundations for the ongoing dialogue between our Churches,” he said. He also highlighted the significant presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the funeral of Pope Francis and again at the Mass inaugurating his own papacy, calling it a powerful witness to fraternity and hope.
Reaffirming his own commitment, Pope Leo declared, “With God’s help, I am determined to persevere on the road toward full, visible communion between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.”
Emphasizing the method as much as the mission, the Pope stressed that unity must be pursued through “sincere dialogue, mutual respect, and patient listening.” He described the ongoing theological and fraternal engagement between the two traditions not as a formal process but as a spiritual pilgrimage one rooted in trust and guided by the Holy Spirit.
“I welcome your insights and suggestions,” he told the delegation, adding that any steps forward will be taken in close consultation with Catholic bishops, who share in his responsibility for nurturing ecclesial unity.
Pope Leo expressed heartfelt thanks to the visiting delegation and asked them to deliver his warm greetings to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod. He also entrusted the Churches’ shared mission to the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, Saint Andrew, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying that these holy figures “guide and strengthen our efforts for the Gospel and for the unity Christ desires.”
The Pope’s words carry fresh significance in a world yearning for reconciliation, where centuries-old divisions within Christianity still await healing. His renewed call is a powerful reminder that true unity begins with fraternity and is fulfilled through faith, dialogue, and humility.