Patriarch Bartholomew announced the Pope's visit to the Phanar in the near future

on November 20, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew again announced the visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Phanar. The pontiff will participate in the celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea and the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle.

During a meeting with a delegation from the European People’s Party, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the profound historical significance of the current year, Orthodox Times reported. «This year marks a symbolic milestone as the Christian world celebrates the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea, where the original Creed was formulated,» the Patriarch said.

He also announced that in a few days Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Constantinople to jointly celebrate this anniversary and the Throne Feast of St. Andrew. This visit will continue the tradition established by his predecessors — Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.

Recall, earlier we reported that in December 2025, the visit of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to the Phanar is expected. This was announced by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, calling on the faithful to take part in the solemn events. The visit will culminate in a joint patriarchal service, but the trip may be fraught with concerns over the issue of recognizing the PCU.