Pope Leo XIV attends events marking Nicaea anniversary in Türkiye

By Anadolu staff

BURSA, Türkiye (AA) - Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of the Vatican, on Friday attended events marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in the northwestern province of Bursa’s Iznik district, Türkiye.

As part of his visit to Türkiye, which first included meetings in Ankara and Istanbul, the pontiff travelled to Iznik for the commemorative ceremony.

Calling the anniversary a valuable opportunity, Pope Leo underlined the council’s enduring significance for Christianity.

He said that in a world scarred by violence and conflict, people everywhere are calling for peace and reconciliation, emphasizing that religion should never be used to justify war, violence or any form of extremism or fanaticism.

The pope also expressed gratitude to Patriarch Bartholomew for initiating the commemoration and conveyed messages of unity, reconciliation and peace.

Following his program in Iznik, the pope was set to return to Istanbul before departing for Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Sunday.