Pope Leo XIV will be making an historic visit to Türkiye on Nov. 28, when he attends ceremonies marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council. In preparation for his visit, a Vatican delegation, led by Pope’s Vicar General Cardinal Baldassare Reina, arrived in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Bursa to carry out a series of visits in preparation for the historic trip. The 38-member group of priests and nuns from the Vatican began their program in the town of İznik, the current name for the city of Nicaea. There they toured the Basilica of Saint Neophytos, and the Hagia Sophia Mosque, before continuing to the city center. In Bursa, the delegation visited the historic municipality building, greeted local artisans at the Koza Han bazaar, and stopped by the Grand Bazaar and the Protestant Church.
Upon his arrival on Nov. 28, the Pope will offer prayers near the archaeological remains of the submerged basilica, widely believed to be the site of the First Ecumenical Council. Preparations are already underway throughout İznik, revered for its deep historical and spiritual heritage. Some 60 archaeologists, restorers, anthropologists and art historians are currently finalizing landscaping and exhibition work, to ensure the site is ready for the Pope’s arrival. Streets and historical sites are being renovated, and new facilities, including a visitor’s center for the basilica, have opened as part of efforts to promote the town as a major cultural and religious destination.
