Istanbul: Pope Leo XIV continued his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye on Saturday with a profound moment of prayer and fraternity at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where he joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for a special Doxology service.
The gathering, held on the Pope’s third day in the country, became a powerful symbol of the historic and ongoing ties between the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. As he entered the ancient church, Pope Leo spoke of feeling “deep emotion,” aware that he was walking the same path taken by his predecessors Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
He warmly thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for the gracious welcome, noting the long-standing friendship the Patriarch had cultivated with successive Bishops of Rome. The Pope said this legacy of fraternity had shaped his own developing relationship with the Patriarch since their first encounter at the beginning of his pontificate.
The visit was deeply intertwined with celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Pope Leo reflected on the powerful liturgies and commemorations held both the previous day and that morning, describing them as “extraordinary moments of grace.”
He noted that the memory of the Council rooted in Christ’s prayer that all believers “may be one” invites Christians to rekindle their dedication to healing centuries-old divisions and working toward full communion.
Pope Leo also paid tribute to the Apostle Andrew, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and brother of Saint Peter. He offered heartfelt greetings ahead of the Patriarchate’s patronal feast, expressing solidarity and warm wishes to the Orthodox community preparing for Sunday’s celebration.
Following the prayer service, the Pope and Patriarch met privately. The encounter concluded with the signing of a Joint Declaration affirming their mutual commitment to advancing Christian unity, dialogue, and global peace.
The meeting in Istanbul marked another significant step in strengthening the spiritual and historical bonds between the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, underscoring their shared mission in witnessing to the Gospel in a fractured world.