Pope Leo XIV had a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Monday in the Vatican, after the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the Inauguration of the head of the Roman Cathlolic Church on Sunday.

According to ANA-MPA sources, Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew intend to continue cultivating the close, brotherly relations that had been developed under Pope Francis, which are centred on defending the most vulnerable and ensuring that peace prevails.

It was agreed that a meeting between the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch to mark the 1,700-year anniversary since the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be held at the site of ancient Nicaea (present-day Iznik in Turkiye) within the current year, the sources said. The meeting might possibly be organised at the end of November, they noted, so that the Pope might visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate during the feast of Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Founder of the Church of Constantinople.

Before his departure from Rome, Patriarch Bartholomew intends to visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will pray at the tomb of Pope Francis.