Bartholomew hopes new pope will sustain Francis’ ecumenism with Nicaea visit

Patriarch Bartholomew suggested the rescheduled papal visit to Turkey might coincide with the “Throne Feast” of the Apostle Andrew the First Called on 30 November.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I said he hoped the new pope would continue to support ecumenical dialogue between Catholic and Orthodox Churches by attending the Nicaea anniversary event in Turkey, which is likely to be moved to later in the year from its original date in May.

Referring to the joint commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council as “a pilgrimage”, Bartholomew suggested a new date for the new pope to visit Turkey, which he hoped may coincide with the occasion of the “Throne Feast” of the Apostle Andrew the First Called, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate marks on 30 November.

“We now hope that his successor, the new Pope of Rome, will be willing to fulfil Francis’ dream – a dream he deeply cherished – and that we will go together again in this year of 2025, the anniversary of the Council, and make our pilgrimage,” Bartholomew said.

The death of Pope Francis upset plans for a joint commemoration of the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which had already been thrown into doubt by his earlier hospitalisation. Pope Francis expressed his desire to visit Turkey on several occasions, but in March the Vatican said it never made a confirmation of a papal visit to Turkey.

The symbolic visit, which was supposed to take place a month after both Catholics and Orthodox celebrated Easter on the same date, has significant ecumenical implications for Bartholomew’s hopes, shared with Pope Francis, for the Churches to establish a common date for Easter on a permanent basis.

“Unfortunately, our efforts have not been completed,” Bartholomew said, while expressing a strong desire that the ecumenical journey will continue with the new leadership of the Catholic Church. “We hold hope that the new pope will share the same positive spirit as Blessed Francis, so that we may one day witness this historic achievement.”

In March, Bartholomew said the long-held disagreements between the Orthodox and Catholics were “not insurmountable”, hoping that “they can be resolved in a couple of years” despite their centuries-long history.  

Orthodox churches remember friendship of Pope Francis

Dating Easter: what really happened at Whitby

Stay updated — add us as a preferred news source on Google: