Pope Leo XIV's Historic Visit: Unity in Diversity

Pope Leo XIV began his inaugural visit to Turkiye by engaging with the Catholic community, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicaean Creed. His goal was to strengthen Christian unity, commemorating the historical council that remains a shared belief among Catholics, Orthodox, and historic Protestant groups.

Pope Leo XIV started his first full day in Turkiye by meeting with the country's small Catholic community, who welcomed his presence with enthusiasm. The pope's visit aims to reinforce Christian unity globally.

Chants of "Papa Leo" and "Viva il Papa" were heard both inside and outside Istanbul's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as the pope visited at the outset of his first trip since ascending to the papacy.

He convened with the Catholic clergy and nuns of Turkiye ahead of commemorating a pivotal event in Christian history. Pope Leo will be observing the 1,700th anniversary of the 325 AD Nicaean Creed, an enduring statement of Christian faith accepted widely across denominations.

(With inputs from agencies.)