The director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has confirmed the visit of Pope Leo XIV to İznik, the ancient Nicea, from November 27 to 30, 2025. The pilgrimage coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, held in the year 325, where the Nicene Creed was established under the presidency of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.
İznik, situated on the shores of the lake of the same name in the Turkish province of Bursa, was for centuries one of the most sacred centers of Christianity, comparable to Rome, Jerusalem, or Constantinople. The city hosted the First Ecumenical Council in 325, where the Nicene Creed was formulated, which is still recited in churches around the world. Among its emblematic sites is the submerged basilica in Lake İznik, a fourth-century church dedicated to Saint Neophyte, discovered after an earthquake and currently in the process of being turned into a museum. It is believed that this was the location where the historic council was held.
The city bears the marks of the civilizations that have inhabited it: Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. The ancient Church of Holy Wisdom, transformed into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1331 and renovated by the architect Mimar Sinan, hosted the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 and still retains frescoes of the Virgin Mary, Christ, and Saint John the Baptist. In addition to its Christian significance, İznik boasts walls over five kilometers long, paleochristian churches, a Roman theater, and an archaeological museum housed in a former Ottoman soup kitchen. The city, recognized as a «Cittaslow,» promotes a model of sustainable tourism centered on respect for the environment and the appreciation of local traditions such as artisanal pottery making.
İznik is located two and a half hours from Istanbul, making it easy to visit for those seeking an immersion in the religious and heritage history of Türkiye. From İznik, it is possible to continue the journey in Istanbul, where monuments such as Hagia Sophia, St. Irene, Chora (Kariye), Zeyrek, or Little Hagia Sophia allow visitors to trace the evolution of Christianity in the East. The visit of Pope Leo XIV will enhance İznik’s role as a key destination for religious and cultural tourism, underscoring the Vatican’s desire to build bridges with historical sites of Christianity beyond the Western axis. For Türkiye, this commemoration represents an opportunity to showcase its legacy in interreligious dialogue, its archaeological wealth, and its potential as a meeting place between cultures.
