Pope Leo XIV: Christians Share a Stronger Unity Than Their Divisions

Rome, 7 June 2025 — Pope Leo XIV has underscored the deep bonds uniting Christians across traditions, as he addressed participants of the symposium “Nicaea and the Church of the Third Millennium: Towards Catholic-Orthodox Unity”, held at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

Marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD), the Pope described the Council as a "compass" still guiding the Church today. He stressed that the unity of Christians is not a product of human strategies but a gift of the Holy Spirit, received according to Christ’s will.

"The unity we seek will not be primarily the fruit of our own efforts, nor achieved through any blueprint," Pope Leo said, calling instead for openness to the Spirit’s work.

He praised the symposium’s three key themes—faith, synodality, and the date of Easter—as vital components of the ecumenical journey. On the faith of Nicaea, the Holy Father highlighted that Christians already share a common core: belief in the Trinity, Christ’s true humanity and divinity, salvation through Him, and hope in eternal life. “What we have in common,” he affirmed, “is much stronger than what divides us.”

The Pope expressed confidence that returning to the Council of Nicaea as a shared foundation could cast new light on unresolved theological differences. This, he said, would strengthen efforts towards the restoration of full communion between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

On synodality, Pope Leo noted that the Council of Nicaea initiated a model of collective discernment in addressing universal Church matters. He expressed hope that commemorating the Council would lead to greater shared expressions of synodality across Christian traditions.

Regarding the shared celebration of Easter, Pope Leo lamented that calendar differences have led to divided observances of Christianity’s most important feast. He welcomed proposed solutions that uphold the spirit of Nicaea while allowing a common Easter date. Notably, he celebrated the fact that in 2025, all Christians observed Easter on the same day, calling it a powerful witness to unity and a boost to Gospel proclamation.

Concluding the encounter, the Pope invited participants to pray together a traditional Eastern Christian prayer, invoking the Holy Spirit as the source of life and unity. He then imparted his Apostolic Blessing, urging all to continue seeking the gift of communion through prayer, dialogue, and shared faith.

Courtesy: Vatican News