Pope Francis: I sincerely wish to travel to Nicaea in 2025

On the morning of this Friday, June 28, Pope Francis received in audience a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, within the framework of the feast of Saints Peter and Saint Paul which is celebrated on Saturday, June 29.

For the Holy Father, this visit, as well as the sending of a delegation from the Vatican for the feast of Saint Andrew, “offer the opportunity to experience the joy of fraternal encounter and witness to the deep ties that unite the sister Churches of Rome and Constantinople.”

Furthermore, he stated that these acts are carried out “with the firm will to move forward together towards the reestablishment of the unity to which only the Holy Spirit can guide us, that of communion in legitimate diversity.”

Next, the Pontiff recalled that in May 2014, “the Ecumenical Patriarch His Holiness Bartholomew and I went as pilgrims to Jerusalem, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that historic event.”

It was there, the Holy Father highlighted, where our Lord Jesus Christ “died, rose again and ascended to heaven, and where the Holy Spirit was poured out for the first time on the disciples, where we reaffirm our commitment to continue walking together towards the unity by which Christ the Lord prayed to the Father, that all may be one.”

He assured that even, 10 years later, he keeps “the memory of that pilgrimage alive and grateful” and reiterated that the dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox “does not entail any risk for the integrity of the faith; On the contrary, it is a demand that springs from fidelity to the Lord and leads us to the complete truth, through an exchange of gifts, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

The urgency of praying for peace in the Holy Land

Later, he set his sights on the dramatic current situation in the Holy Land, which “tragically shows us the need and urgency to pray together for peace, so that this war ends, the Heads of the Nations and the parties in conflict. “find the path of harmony again and all recognize each other as brothers.”

He also showed his desire for peace in the “martyred” Ukraine, while highlighting that “in a time in which so many men and women are prisoners of fear of the future, the Church has the mission of announcing Jesus Christ, our hope.”

Possible trip to Nicaea in 2025

Later, he invited them to support with their prayer the fruits of the Jubilee of Hope 2025, which “will also mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.”

“I hope that the memory of this very important event increases in all believers in Christ the Lord the will to witness together to the faith and the desire for greater communion,” he expressed.

Furthermore, he thanked His Holiness Bartholomew for inviting him to celebrate in Nicaea. “It is a trip that I want to take, from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

“Let us entrust our Churches to the intercession of the holy brothers Peter and Andrew, so that the Lord may grant us to walk along the path that He shows us, which is always the path of love, reconciliation and mercy,” he said finally. Pope Francis.