Pope marks the 1700 anniversary of the Council of Nicea, celebrates Christian unity in Iznik, Turkey

(28 Nov 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Iznik, Turkey - 28 November 2025 1. Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I processing towards Lake Iznik and ruins of ancient church of Saint Neophytus 2. Security boat on lake 3. Close of Leo and Bartholomew 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Trisha Thomas, The Associated Press: "We are here in Iznik, where Pope Leo XIV is marking one of the most important moments of his six-day trip. It is the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. In 325 A.D., about 300 bishops of various Christian faiths came together here to try and form some kind of unity. They came up with the Nicene Creed, which is still used by millions in churches around the world. It starts out, 'we believe in one God, the Father Almighty'. Pope Leo will be coming here with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to mark this important historical event. Pope Leo is using this trip to give a boost to the diminishing number of Christians in this part of the world. He is also using the trip to promote peace." 5. Various Christian religious leaders on platform near lake 6. Religious leaders seated 7. Pope Leo in helicopter circling overhead 8. Tracking shot of helicopter 9. Wide of religious leaders on platform near Lake Iznik STORYLINE: Pope Leo XIV marked a high point of his first foreign trip to Turkey with a pilgrimage to the site where early Christian church leaders met 1,700 years ago under the auspices of the Roman Emperor Constantine to host the Council of Nicaea. Leo on Friday prayed for Christian unity with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, at the site of the A.D. 325 gathering, now the town of Iznik. The unprecedented gathering of at least 250 bishops from around the Roman Empire during the first council established the first version of the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that millions of Christians still recite each Sunday. Eastern and Western churches were united until the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope. The American pope has emphasized a message of peace and a plea to help end wars in Ukraine and Gaza during his trip to Turkey and Lebanon, which lasts through Tuesday. On Thursday, he met in the capital Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and encouraged Turkey to be a source of stability and dialogue in a world riven by conflict. Leo then traveled to Istanbul to carry not only his message of unity among Christians at Iznik, located southeast of the city, but also to reinforce the church’s relations with Muslims. Leo also is due to visit the Blue Mosque and preside over an interfaith meeting in Istanbul. AP video shot by: Paolo Santalucia Production: Trisha Thomas =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...