Skip to content

A path toward unity: Pope Francis proposes joint Catholic-Orthodox celebration of Nicaea anniversary

Pope Francis has proposed celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea together with Orthodox leaders in a personal letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

Pope Francis has proposed celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea together with Orthodox leaders in a personal letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

The letter, published by the Vatican on Saturday, was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch — who heads the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity — during a visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox Church.

“The now imminent 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be another opportunity to bear witness to the growing communion that already exists among all who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Francis wrote in his message dated Nov. 30.

Reflecting on six decades of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue while looking ahead to future possibilities for unity, the pope acknowledged the progress made since Vatican II’s Unitatis Redintegratio decree marked the Catholic Church’s official entry into the ecumenical movement 60 years ago.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, speaks to journalists at the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, speaks to journalists at the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Speaking to EWTN News about this anniversary on Nov. 21, Koch emphasized that unity efforts must focus on “the innermost center of self-revelation in Jesus Christ.”

The Swiss cardinal also highlighted what he called an “ecumenism of blood,” noting that “Christians are not persecuted because they are Catholic, Lutheran, or Anglican but because they are Christians.”

Building peace in a time of war

While celebrating the “renewed fraternity” achieved since Vatican II, Pope Francis noted in his message that full communion, particularly sharing “the one Eucharistic chalice,” remains an unfulfilled goal.

In a pointed observation about contemporary global tensions, the pontiff connected ecumenical efforts to peace-building.

“The fraternity lived and the witness given by Christians will also be a message for our world plagued by war and violence,” he wrote, specifically mentioning Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon.

The pope also highlighted the recent participation of Orthodox representatives in October’s Synod on Synodality.

The traditional exchange of delegations between Rome and Constantinople occurs twice yearly, with Catholic representatives traveling to Istanbul for St. Andrew’s feast on Nov. 30 and Orthodox delegates visiting Rome for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29.

Koch led this year’s Vatican delegation. He was accompanied by Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the dicastery; Monsignor Andrea Palmieri, undersecretary; and Archbishop Marek Solczyński, apostolic nuncio to Turkey.

The delegation participated in the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George, Phanar, and held discussions with the synodal commission charged with relations with the Catholic Church.

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.

Sign up to our Newsletter here

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

First known Nativity scene figurines are on display in Rome

The first known Nativity scene figurines are currently on display in one of Rome’s oldest basilicas. The underground

Pope Francis: Resignation already signed ‘in case of medical impediment’

Pope Francis said that in case of not being able to continue governing the Catholic Church due to

Cardinal Saint John Henry Newman’s Time in Rome

Saint John Henry Newman’s Footsteps In Rome: A Journey of Faith and Conversion

Vatican News: Pope to Travel to Luxembourg and Belgium & Canadian Cardinal Cleared of Misconduct Allegations

Welcome to Vaticano Updates: Pope Francis stresses unity with Chinese Catholics, Cardinal Lacroix cleared of misconduct, Montecassino bombing remembered, urgent needs in Gaza, and a September visit to Luxembourg and Belgium announced.

The Vatican’s statements on the German Synodal Way: a timeline

In a striking personal intervention, Pope Francis has written a letter to four German Catholic laywomen who quit

LIVE | Pope Francis’ Holy Mass with New Cardinals for the Opening of the Synod

LIVE from St. Peter’s Basilica | Join us for the Holy Mass for the opening of the Synod

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTN.it