Pope Leo XIV plans to visit Türkiye for 1700th anniversary of First Council of Nicaea

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has said that he is preparing for a visit to Türkiye to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history held in 325 AD.

The pontiff made the announcement during his first official audience with members of the media since ascending to the papacy. The event took place in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican and was attended by approximately 4,000 journalists, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Pope Leo XIV, who was elected during the Conclave held on May 7–8 following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, used the occasion to highlight the importance of ethical and peaceful communication.

“Peace begins with each of us — in how we see others, how we listen, and how we speak,” the pope said. “The way we communicate matters fundamentally. We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images. We must reject the paradigm of war.”

He urged journalists to adopt a calm and principled approach in their work, stressing the need for voices on the margins to be heard. “We don’t need loud and aggressive communication,” he said. “We need attentiveness to unheard voices. Let us disarm our words, and thus contribute to disarming the world. That is the path to communication worthy of human dignity.”

At the conclusion of the event, Pope Leo XIV greeted journalists seated in the front rows. When asked whether he would attend commemorative events for the Council of Nicaea, he replied: “I’m aware of it. We are preparing.”

The 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea falls on May 20 this year. The original council was convened by Roman Emperor Constantine I and took place in the city of Nicaea (present-day İznik, Türkiye) in June 325. Lasting over two months, it was the first ecumenical council in the history of Christianity, establishing foundational doctrines for the early Church.

By Khagan Isayev