Shouts of “Papa Leo” and “Viva il Papa” filled Istanbul’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as Pope Leo XIV arrived for his inaugural trip to Turkey. Leading a prayer service alongside Turkish Catholic clergy and religious sisters, the Pope’s visit centers on commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the 325 AD Council of Nicaea, an influential gathering where bishops established the Nicene Creed—a foundational declaration of faith for millions of Christians globally. The council marked a time when Eastern and Western Christian churches were unified before the Great Schism of 1054. In his remarks, Pope Leo emphasized that the Nicene Creed represents the “essential core of the Christian faith,” urging the congregation to view its development as a living reality that deepens the understanding of this faith. During his time in Turkey, he also met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to promote a message of peace and encouraged the nation’s small Catholic community of approximately 33,000 members, particularly praising their outreach efforts to migrants and refugees. His visit is set to continue in Lebanon, further underscoring a commitment to ecumenical unity in a diverse Christian world.
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