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Denver, Colorado, Nov 29, 2025 / 12:36 pm (CNA).

The First Sunday of Advent 2025 is tomorrow, Nov. 30, less than four weeks before Christmas this year, and while the Church provides this time to allow you to be caught by the joy of the Incarnation, you can be easily caught by surprise that it is Christmas. To help remedy this surprise, the Church provides songs, signs, and symbols to enter into the season of Advent more fruitfully.

Here are three ways the Church teaches us about the meaning of the season:

Advent hymns

Many of the customary hymns for Advent highlight the movement of the soul toward what Pope Francis termed in a homily on Advent as a “horizon of hope.” No hymn epitomizes this better than “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” with its overtones of expectation and its mournful remorse over the state of man, captive to sin. The cultivation of hope and expectation is also seen in Advent hymns such as “O Come Divine Messiah” and “People Look East.” 

The commingled darkness and hope that God will fulfill his promises, a theme characteristic of Advent, deepens with songs like the Spanish carol “Alepun.” The lyrics of “Alepun” move the faithful into an experience of waiting with a pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary while the rhythm and percussion evoke donkey hooves clattering across the plains of Israel to Bethlehem.

Church decor

Advent is a season of penance marked by joy and, in many ways, a little Lent. This is why the colors of purple and pink — with their ties to penance and the Lord’s Passion, and the joy of Laetare Sunday when Lent is almost over — are the colors of Advent. But did you know that the deep purple of Advent has a blue hue to it to teach the faithful in symbol about the Marian heart of the season?

The lack of church decor also teaches about the penitential nature of the season. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the lack of flowers on the altar, the restrained use of instruments, and the absence of the resounding and angelic Gloria all lead to a deliberate emptiness.

The emptiness will first be filled on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and, later, flowers will be allowed on Gaudete Sunday as the first expression of the festivity of the coming Christmas.

Saints and solemnities 

Following the solemnity of Christ the King, Advent begins with echoes of the power of Christ coming in glory before it stretches forward to the humble beginnings of the mystery of the Incarnation.

This means there is a certain focus the Church helps people enter into even in the way the liturgical calendar is marked by very few memorials of saints: just five in the course of the four weeks, most of whom are deeply embedded in the celebration of and preparation for Christmas in various countries.

St. Nicholas is the best known of the five: the generous bishop whose gifts inspired generations of lore and giving. St. Lucy, whose desire to give charity to prisoners in the catacombs meant she wore candles in her hair to free her hands, is another well-known saint with connections to Christmas whom we celebrate in Advent.

The Church also shows forth the importance of Mary during this season, which places her Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, a solemnity and holy day of obligation, at the very beginning of the liturgical year. Combined with the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, the Church shows forth what God has wrought in a soul full of grace — a foreshadowing of the entire mystery of salvation in one soul.

Though there are many more signs and symbols that communicate the meaning of Advent, these can assist you as you enter the season of expectation, building anticipation for the celebration of Christmas so it doesn’t catch you by surprise.

This article was first published on Nov. 28, 2022, and has been updated.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 29, 2025. / Screenshot: Vatican Media

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 29, 2025 / 11:20 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV marked the start of Advent on Saturday with an appeal for unity and peace, telling thousands gathered for Mass in Istanbul that Christians “journey as if on a bridge that connects earth to Heaven,” keeping their eyes “fixed on both shores” until they are united “in the house of the Father.”

The pope celebrated Mass on Nov. 29 at the Volkswagen Arena, a large multipurpose venue within Istanbul’s Uniq cultural complex. The liturgy, held on the eve of the Feast of St. Andrew, patron of Turkey, took place during the third day of his first international apostolic trip, which has brought him to Turkey and will soon continue on to Lebanon.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the beginning of Advent, saying it prepares believers “to experience anew at Christmas the mystery of Jesus, the Son of God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” Drawing on the first reading from Isaiah (Is 2:1–5), he invited the faithful “to ascend the mountain of the Lord,” which he described as an image of divine light and peace.

Leo pointed to two key images in the reading. The first was the mountain “established as the highest of the mountains,” which he said reminds Christians that God’s gifts “are a gift not only for us, but for everyone.” He cited examples of evangelizing witness: St. Peter meeting Christ through St. Andrew’s enthusiasm, and St. Augustine coming to the faith through St. Ambrose. Recalling a line from St. John Chrysostom—“The miracle happens and passes, but the Christian life remains and continually edifies”—he urged the faithful to “keep watch” with prayer, charity, and spiritual vigilance.

The second image was the prophet’s vision of peace: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares… neither shall they learn war any more.” The pope said the message is especially urgent today, calling the Church to be a sign of reconciliation in a world marked by conflict.

Turning to the theme of bridges, Leo noted that the logo for his visit to Turkey features the Bosporus Bridge, which joins Asia and Europe. He said the image points to three essential “bridges of unity”: within the Catholic community, in relations with other Christians, and in dialogue with other religions.

The pope highlighted the four Catholic traditions present in Turkey—Latin, Armenian, Chaldean, and Syriac—calling them “a catholicity that unites.” Unity, he said, “needs care, attention, and maintenance.” Quoting Christ’s prayer “that they may all be one,” he appealed again for Christian unity and encouraged believers to be peacemakers.

The diversity of Turkey’s Catholic community was visible in the liturgy. A choir of about 200 members represented the country’s four rites. Scripture readings and prayer intentions were offered in Turkish, Aramaic, Syriac, English, Armenian, and Arabic, reflecting the multilingual and multicultural character of local Catholics.

On Sunday afternoon, the pope will depart Turkey for the second leg of his apostolic journey in Lebanon. Before leaving Istanbul, he is scheduled to participate in several ecumenical events in the morning.

Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople sign a joint declaration at the Palace of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 29, 2025. / Vatican Media

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 29, 2025 / 10:07 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople said on Saturday they are “deeply alarmed by the current international situation,” issuing a joint appeal for peace.

The appeal took place during the pope’s first international trip, a journey that has taken him to Turkey and will continue on to Lebanon.

The two leaders signed a joint declaration at the Palace of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul. The text rejects the use of religion to justify violence, urges global efforts toward peace, supports cooperation among believers of different faiths, and entrusts a suffering world to God with renewed hope in the Holy Spirit.

The pope and the patriarch, who is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, reaffirmed their shared commitment to dialogue aimed at restoring full communion between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches. Calling Christian unity a gift from God, they encouraged clergy and faithful to pray and work for the fulfillment of Christ’s prayer “that they may all be one.”

Marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, they pointed to the Nicene Creed as a shared foundation of faith and expressed hope for a future common celebration of Easter. They recalled with gratitude the 60th anniversary of the lifting of mutual excommunications in 1965 by St. Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, and called for renewed courage in pursuing dialogue.

Acknowledging the obstacles that still hinder full communion, Leo and Bartholomew said they remain committed to addressing them through theological exchange and fraternal encounter.

In their declaration, they appealed to civil and political leaders to “do everything possible to ensure that the tragedy of war ceases immediately,” and asked all people of good will to join them in this plea. They encouraged efforts to build a just and supportive society and to care for creation, insisting that only such shared responsibility can overcome indifference, domination, greed, and xenophobia.

Earlier in the day, Pope Leo joined Patriarch Bartholomew for a Doxology, a liturgical prayer of praise to God, at Saint George’s Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchal Church in Istanbul. The pope said he felt “great emotion” upon entering the historic church, noting that he was mindful of the gestures of his predecessors and grateful for the friendship he has shared with Bartholomew since the beginning of his ministry as bishop of Rome.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, based in Istanbul, is recognized as the central coordinating seat of the Orthodox Church. Patriarch Bartholomew I, widely known for his leadership in ecumenical dialogue and environmental advocacy, is considered the 270th successor of St. Andrew.

On Saturday morning, the pope also met privately with leaders of Christian Churches in Turkey at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem in Istanbul, where he was welcomed by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II. Concluding the meeting, he reflected on the significance of the Council of Nicaea and the Gospel of the Incarnation, calling the assembled leaders to prayer, unity, and renewed evangelization. He invited them to journey together toward the 2033 Jubilee with the hope of advancing toward full communion, inspired by the motto In Illo Uno Unum (“Unity in the One”).

Mor Ephrem, located in Yeşilköy, is the first church to be built in Turkey since the founding of the Republic. Construction began nearly a decade before its inauguration in 2023, but was slowed by administrative delays, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 earthquake.

During the gathering, a choir sang an invocation to the Holy Spirit before the leaders sat together at a round table for a closed-door exchange. Each offered brief remarks, followed by the pope’s address. The Patriarchal Vicar led the Lord’s Prayer before the pope’s departure.

The Syriac Orthodox Church, headquartered in Damascus, Syria, numbers around two million faithful worldwide, and its patriarch plays an important role in ecumenical relations.

The flights for Pope Leo XIV's first apostolic journey are taking place aboard an ITA Airways Airbus A320neo, one of thousands of Airbus planes affected by a computer issue, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News.

CNA Staff, Nov 29, 2025 / 08:30 am (CNA).

The papal plane set to fly Pope Leo XIV from Turkey to Lebanon on Sunday is one of thousands of Airbus A320 aircraft affected by a computer issue.

Around 6,000 Airbus planes were grounded this weekend after it was discovered that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control computers, according to the BBC.

For most of the affected aircraft, the issue could be resolved with a software update, but around 900 planes, including the papal plane, needed onboard computers physically replaced.

According to Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni, a plane arrived in Istanbul from Rome on Saturday with a technician and the replacement computer for Pope Leo’s ITA Airways A320neo. 

Leo is scheduled to take a two-hour flight from Istanbul to Beirut around midday on Nov. 30 for the second leg of his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon.

Seminarians at St. Paul’s Major Seminary on the Indonesian island of Flores. / Credit: St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Flores, Indonesia

EWTN News, Nov 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Roughly 500 miles east of Bali lies the island of Flores, a vocational powerhouse that supplies seminarians not only to Indonesia but also to Catholic communities around the world. Catholicism first arrived here in the 16th century, when Portuguese spice traders brought missionaries to the rugged, mountainous island. Today, the faith is deeply rooted, with more than 80% of the island’s 2 million people being Catholic.

Flores hosts several seminaries, most clustered around Maumere on the island’s northern coast. Religious congregations including the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the Somascan Fathers, the Rogationists, the Vocationists, and the Carmelites all operate seminaries there, creating a dense network of vocational formation rarely found elsewhere in Asia.

Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD, of Ende and a native of Flores, stressed the island’s importance not just for the Indonesian Church but for dioceses and religious congregations worldwide.

“Many of the alumni of these seminaries are working outside the country,” he noted, highlighting the island’s contribution to the global clergy. A thriving minor seminary system also feeds this pipeline, which currently has 650 students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level.

“Once the students finish their school, they can opt for dioceses or different congregations,” Kleden explained. “We do not limit their choice.”

Pope Francis alluded to Flores’ reputation in a 2022 homily on religious life, joking about how some congregations look “to an island in Indonesia” when searching for vocations. The remark, made in a broader reflection on renewal in consecrated life, subtly acknowledged the island’s global significance as a source of seminarians.

A notable institution on Flores is St. Paul’s Major Seminary, perched on the hilltop of Ledalero and founded in 1937 by Divine Word missionaries. It began with SVD novices but soon welcomed local youth called to the priesthood as well as students from other religious orders. To date, the seminary has formed nearly 1,500 SVD missionary priests, with around 500 serving in more than 70 countries worldwide.

At Ledalero, seminarians study philosophy for four years, followed by two years of theology, and complete one to two years of pastoral service before ordination. Those who discern that priesthood is not their calling can leave the program at any time and earn a bachelor’s degree from the nearby Ledalero Catholic School of Philosophy.

According to Father Sefrianus Juhani, SVD, a professor at St. Paul’s Major Seminary, religious vocations remain “quite dynamic.” He noted that annual intake after the novitiate almost never falls below 50, which he sees as proof that the vocation spirit is still very much alive in Indonesia despite cultural and social challenges.

But quantity is never the seminary’s priority. Juhani stressed that Ledalero’s formation aims to shape emotionally mature, disciplined, and spiritually grounded men — priests who are honest and passionate, ready to serve, not to seek fame or social status. The path is long and demanding, he admitted, “but the aim never changes.”

Juhani pointed to the digital world as a major challenge for seminarians. “Our seminarians live in a fast-paced information environment,” he said. “Often this environment propagates disinformation, fake news, and a shortsighted mindset.” Such influences, he believed, make it harder for young men to cultivate silence and reflection, which are essential for spiritual growth.

To protect this interior space, the seminary enforces strict limits on electronics, with Wi-Fi available only during certain hours — a policy designed not to punish but to teach self-regulation and spiritual focus. “Some try to bend the rules,” Juhani admitted, “but we view it as part of their character formation and personal responsibility.”

Finances pose another challenge. With more than 320 seminarians, resources are often stretched thin. Priests and brothers contribute everything they earn, from teaching to small agricultural projects, while families support the seminary however they can.

Even so, funding rarely meets needs. While seminarians are given monthly stipends, they must still manage their own finances and, if they feel they need more, they work the fields for it. To develop economic self-reliance, the community harvests from its own gardens while raising pigs and chickens for food.

The seminarians come from a wide range of family backgrounds. “Some come from well-off families, others from humble ones,” Juhani noted. Some grew up as an only child, others among many siblings.

This diversity, he said, actively enriches priestly formation. Living and studying together teaches seminarians to build “cross-cultural, cross-lingual, and interpersonal brotherhood,” a solidarity that becomes central to their priestly identity.

Daily life at Ledalero follows a disciplined rhythm of prayer, study, and work. Mornings begin with meditation and Mass before moving into lectures, writing assignments, and manual labor that instills “responsibility, teamwork, and humility.” Seminarians cook their own meals and spend evenings participating in choir, writing workshops, and cultural clubs, developing the confidence, creativity, and social skills essential for future pastoral work.

Weekends pull the seminarians into the wider community — mentoring youth, staying with village families, visiting prisoners and patients living with HIV. Their formation is not confined to classrooms. Seminarians are active in environmental advocacy, joining protests against mining projects and helping residents articulate their concerns through print media.

When Mount Lewotobi erupted in July and again in October, Ledalero’s students were on the ground, assisting in evacuation and relief efforts. These encounters, Juhani noted, are designed to cultivate a spirit of service and solidarity, placing seminarians with the people they hope to serve in the years ahead.

“Ledalero is not just a place to learn theology but a school of life,” Juhani said. The simple, brotherly, and inquisitive community life has made Ledalero a living, breathing center of formation in Indonesia.

Each year, new young men arrive with different stories, different dreams, and the same desire to serve something larger than themselves. In their early morning prayers, their long days of study, and their shared meals cooked over simple stoves, they carry forward a vocation that refuses to fade.

Ireland West Airport in Knock, Ireland. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Ireand West Airport Knock

Dublin, Ireland, Nov 29, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the operation of Ireland West Airport in Knock as it records its highest-ever annual passenger numbers since three inaugural Rome-bound Aer Lingus flights departed in 1985. The airport owes its existence and success to the vision, ambition, and drive of Monsignor James Horan, Knock’s parish priest.  

During his apostolic visit in 1979, Pope John Paul II traveled to the Knock Shrine, which he described as “the goal of my journey to Ireland,“ to mark its centenary. For Horan, the delight that the pope was coming to Knock was tempered with regret that there was no airport into which he could fly.

Tom Neary, a volunteer at the shrine for 40 years, told CNA that his close friend — Horan — once said to him: “I’ll tell you one thing, if the pope comes again, we’ll have an airport and he will be able to fly in.”

Neary added: “I didn’t take him too seriously when he said that; that was the kind of thinking the man had.”

The dream was realized when Pope Francis landed at Knock airport on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, as part of the World Meeting of Families. The pope had a particular devotion to St. Joseph, who was present in the apparition with Our Lady at Knock, which added to its appeal for him. He prayed at the shrine, recited the Angelus with the faithful, and offered prayers for abuse victims.

 According to Neary, Horan was always fascinated by airports. “If he was at Dublin Airport, he would go upstairs to have a good look at the planes arriving and departing,” he said. “He was always looking ahead into the future. He was kind of a visionary, and he was never happy unless he was doing something to help people. He loved country people in particular because he was one of them.”

In the early 1980s, Ireland was quite poor and lagged behind other countries economically. Emigration and unemployment rates were spiraling, and even for those who had jobs wages were low.

Despite the economic situation and skepticism from Irish media and politicians, Horan pressed ahead with his plans, securing 10 million Irish pounds (about $13 million) from the then-Irish premier, Taoiseach Charles Haughey, who subsequently formally opened the new airport five years later.

There was a shortfall of 4 million Irish pounds ($5.2 million) at one stage due to a general election and a change in government. To cover this funding gap, Horan organized a “jumbo quiz” — a large-scale lottery that he traveled across several countries, including Australia and the United States, to promote.

Neary explained: “For the jumbo quiz, we had to go for very big prizes, and strangely enough, nobody refused us a prize.”

“Once the 10 million [Irish pounds] was spent, the work stopped, the authorities didn’t want to start up again,” he said. “They stopped it, actually, on two occasions. Now, that was a desperate thing to have done, and even though everything was compliant, they just didn’t want the development at all.”

The jumbo quiz offered a stunning array of prizes including cars, houses, cattle, sites for houses, heating oil (which attracted huge interest), and a lot of money.

“It worked, it completed the runway and a terminal building, the first building that was put up there, and was it not for that jumbo quiz the airport would never have come into being because it was dead and buried, as far as the government was concerned,” Neary said. “Now it has the full support of government. It gets grants from the EU Regional Airport grants. It’s doing extremely well.”

The travel and exertions took their toll on Horan’s health, and he died shortly after the airport’s completion. For people coming to Knock airport now, one of the first things they see is an impressive statue of Horan.

Noel Jennings, who now works at Sligo Regional Airport, was a Knock parishioner who grew up knowing Horan.

“He was a larger-than-life character,” Jennings told CNA. “Back when the airport was celebrating its 25-year anniversary, Monsignor Horan wasn’t being mentioned that much and I felt that he had been lost among that generation, not many people knew of his contribution. I felt that something had to be done to mark his contribution and to remind people coming to the airport of the driving force behind it.”

Together with other individuals who knew Horan, Noel set about establishing a committee to raise the 70,000 euros (about $80,600) needed to erect a permanent statue. And, as with earlier appeals and despite the strained economic situation, it was a success. A statue of Horan now greets people using the airport. 

While the statue is a visible tribute to Horan, a tangible and practical economic legacy is the growth of the airport, the number of destinations, the volume of passengers, and the regularity of flights. 

Donal Healy, head of aviation business development, marketing, and communications at Ireland West Airport, explained to CNA how the airport currently services 22 destinations in the summer and 11 in the winter. Over 950,000 passengers will have used the airport in 2025 — over 100,000 more than the previous year.

“A key presence since 1989 is Ryanair, who has had 12 million passengers use the airport. London traffic accounts for 400,000 passengers annually. The airport now provides employment for over 200 people, with a knock-on effect for local businesses and community,” Healy said.

He added: “On a practical level the presence of the airport enables members of the Irish diaspora with a means to travel directly back to visit relatives in the heart of the west of Ireland, maintaining valuable family, parish, and community contacts.”

The days of large-volume pilgrimage charter flights are gone, but Knock Shrine still welcomes 1.5 million visitors every year, many using the airport.

These lasting benefits of economic sustainability, employment, inward investment, and the continuing appeal of the Knock Shrine are a lasting testimony to Horan’s vision, his faith in the local people, the local business community, the people of Ireland, and most of all, his faith in God.

Pope Leo XIV visits the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 29, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 29, 2025 / 03:10 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV started his third day in Turkey on Saturday with a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. The visit was a gesture of respect towards the Islamic world, fraternity with Muslims, and continuity in building bridges of interreligious dialogue, though the pope declined an invitation to pray in the Muslim house of worship.

The so-called “Blue Mosque” stands as one of the most important Islamic buildings in Istanbul. Its beauty, its scale, and its history continue to attract visitors from all over the world. It also holds a unique place in the relationship between Christianity and Islam, as several popes have passed through its doors in silence and respect.

Benedict XVI visited the mosque in 2006 during his visit to the country. The visit came less than three months after an address he made in Regensburg, Germany, in which he quoted a medieval emperor’s description of Islam as “evil and inhuman” and “spread by the sword,” provoking a fierce reaction in the Muslim world. The Vatican’s spokesman at that time, Fr. Federico Lombardi, said that Benedict paused for meditation inside the Mosque. Pope Francis entered the mosque in 2014 and stood in what the Vatican described as a “moment of silent adoration” of God inside the Muslim place of worship.

After Leo’s visit on Saturday, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement that “the pope experienced the visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of reflection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”

One of the pope’s hosts for the visit, muezzin Aşgın Musa Tunca, told reporters afterwards that he had told the pope he was welcome “to worship here,” but that Leo had replied: “No, I am just going to look around.”

A notable omission from Leo’s itinerary, and a point of tension in Catholic-Islamic relations, is Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church-turned-mosque that the Turkish government designated a museum open to all faiths in the 20th century. Popes Paul VI, John Paul II Benedict XVI and Francis all visited the monument on previous papal visits to Turkey. Francis said he was “deeply pained” when the government turned it back into a mosque in 2020.

Asked on Thursday why Leo would not be visiting Hagia Sophia, Bruni said: “It simply was not put on the program".

The “Blue Mosque” which Leo visited on Saturday was built between 1609 and 1617 by Sultan Ahmed I. It occupies part of the site where the Grand Palace of Constantinople once stood. The goal was to make it the most important place of worship in the Ottoman Empire.

The construction process was carefully organized. The name “Blue Mosque” comes from around 21 thousand turquoise ceramic tiles placed along the walls and the main dome. Walls, arches, and columns carry the famous Iznik tiles in tones from blue to green. Light entering through 260 small windows also gives the prayer hall a remarkable atmosphere.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the only mosque with six minarets. Most mosques have four. Only the one of the Ka’ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, exceeds it, with seven.

Correction: A previous version of this article referred to Father Federico Lombardi as Father Pietro Lombardi. The article has been updated with the correct name.

Pope Leo XIV addresses bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers, and laypeople at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI MENA, Nov 28, 2025 / 10:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV began the second day of his apostolic journey to Turkey at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, a vital spiritual home for a diverse Catholic community largely made up of immigrants from across the world. The cathedral — long a customary stop for pontiffs visiting Turkey — welcomed the Holy Father with profound emotion and vibrant hope.

At the entrance, Pope Leo was received by Father Nicola Masedu, a Sardinian priest who has served in Turkey for more than 15 years and lived a life marked by mission across the Middle East. He first moved to Lebanon at the age of seventeen, later to Iran — where he was briefly arrested — then to the Holy Land, and finally to Istanbul. 

In an interview with ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, Masedu recalled that the first pope he met was Pope Paul VI, whom he greeted at the Beirut airport during a brief stopover on the pontiff’s way to India. He later met St. John Paul II in Castel Gandolfo after being forced to leave Iran, and Pope Benedict XVI in Bethlehem in 2008.

Masedu also welcomed Pope Leo holding the same crucifix he once presented to Pope Francis. He explained that the crucifix originally belonged to the Sisters of Charity at the Austrian Hospital, who gifted it to the parish when they were clearing out some of their rooms. “That crucifix has a history of prayer and protection,” he said, adding a personal memory: “It was a point of reference for Kamila, our little parrot, who — whenever she was frightened — would fly into my office and take refuge near it.”

Masedu also shared with ACI MENA the symbolic gift the community prepared for Pope Leo: a silver chalice crafted by an Armenian artist, engraved with the six apostles who brought Christianity to this land. 

From this deeply symbolic offering, the priest reflected on the ancient Christian roots of Turkey, reflecting on the fact that this land once stood at the heart of the early Church. He emphasized the spirit of ecumenical unity that binds the different Churches together in their effort, as he said, “to remain close to one another.”

He spoke candidly about the challenges facing his community, especially immigrants who struggle with financial hardship, residency permits, and at times, discrimination. Still, the parish works tirelessly to accompany them both spiritually and materially, offering education, social support, medical assistance when necessary, as well as retreats and psychological accompaniment.

Reflecting on the difference between Christian life in Lebanon and Turkey, Masedu noted that in Lebanon he felt “at home,” surrounded by visible Christian symbols, whereas in Turkey churches remain largely hidden from view, with St. Anthony’s Basilica on İstiklal Street being a notable exception. He concluded by expressing his hope that Pope Leo’s visit will strengthen the Christian community, encouraging them to persevere and continue working for peace.

Exiled for his faith

Among the parishioners present this morning was Suhail, a 36-year-old Iranian who arrived in Turkey seven years ago after converting to Christianity. Forced to leave Iran because of his faith, he now works closely with a community of Catholic Iranians who have also sought refuge in Turkey. 

Suhail confirmed that practicing Christianity in Turkey is “immeasurably safer” than in Iran, where he was previously arrested. Yet, mindful of the danger facing Christians still in his home country, he chose not to share details about the persecution there, so as not to put anyone at further risk.

Instead, he spoke with gratitude about the religious freedom he has found in Istanbul, and about the dignity of being able to live and worship openly: “I can pray, I can attend Mass, and I can grow in my faith. For this, I am thankful,” he said.

Suhail has been helping in the cathedral for months in preparation for the papal visit, and he described the opportunity to welcome Pope Leo as “a blessing beyond words.”

An African voice

Also sharing his joy was Philip Tata, originally from Cameroon and now serving as president of the youth group at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. 

Having lived in Gabon before moving to Turkey four years ago, Tata spoke about the remarkable diversity that shapes the parish community. He explained that Mass is celebrated in English, Turkish, and French, reflecting the presence of a large African community, many of whom come from French-speaking countries.

Tata recalled how Pope Francis previously met with refugees in this very church, and he believes Pope Leo is continuing on the same pastoral path, placing special emphasis on migrants, displaced people, and those living on the margins. Pope Leo explicitly mentioned refugees and immigrants in his message this morning, a moment that deeply moved the congregation.

Reflecting on the Catholic youth in Turkey, he said that many young people hope to leave, not because of religious persecution, but because of the limited economic opportunities and scarcity of jobs, which push them to search for a more stable future elsewhere. Still, he expressed hope that the papal visit might inspire renewed support and encouragement for the younger generation.

Lebanese voices singing for the Pope in Istanbul

Among the faithful gathered in the cathedral were also Lebanese Catholics who now live in Turkey and will not be in Lebanon when the pope visits their homeland on Sunday. Yet, providentially, they encountered him here, in what has become their second home, and even had the chance to sing for him as part of the choir. 

Sleiman Saikali, who has lived in Turkey for 30 years is traveling to İznik to sing for the pope during the historic commemoration of the Council of Nicaea. He shared his deep joy at welcoming Pope Leo in a place that symbolizes both his roots and his present life. He said he has been preparing for months, not only by training his voice, but also spiritually through prayer.

He spoke passionately about the mission behind this papal journey, insisting that each country carries a distinct vocation. He recalled being present at the visits of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis to Turkey. “Benedict was a man of extraordinary theological depth, and his visit with Patriarch Bartholomew was an unforgettable ecumenical moment. Francis was like a positive revolution, he returned the Church to the poor and the simple, to justice and humility.”

Looking to Pope Leo, he expressed profound hope: “In him I see a blend of Benedict, Francis, and John Paul II. Since John Paul, God has given the Church popes who walk with the signs of the times, and this is God’s work, not ours.” For Christians in Turkey, he said, papal visits are vital. “As a very small minority, we carry the beauty of keeping the faith, but the danger of isolation is real. We must not isolate ourselves.”

Also part of the choir is Lili El-Helou, a Lebanese student who came to Turkey two years ago. She never imagined she would one day sing before the pope, yet today she stood among those performing at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. She will also chant the Kyrie Eleison in the Maronite melody, on Saturday at the Arena. 

Lili described how her spiritual life has deepened since moving to Istanbul, portraying the parish as active, united, and vibrant, despite the small number of Catholics. She said she feels at peace living her faith in Istanbul. However, she noted that the situation can be “more difficult” in other cities such as İzmir, where religious sisters sometimes hesitate to appear in their habits due not to legal restrictions, but to reactions, comments, and intrusive stares.

A Chaldean presence 

The atmosphere in the cathedral Friday was lifted by a multilingual choir, whose voices filled the church with hymns in different languages including Syriac, a reminder of the ancient Christian heritage rooted in this land. 

Among them was Sister Sandra, a Chaldean nun from the Nuns of the Sacred Heart, who described the opportunity to sing in Syriac — the language spoken by Jesus and preserved by the Eastern Churches —  as “a profound grace and a moment of great beauty.” 

She asked all believers to pray for Turkey, the pope, and the Christian community in Turkey, expressing hope that the visit will strengthen unity and peace.

The Council of Nicaea in 325 as depicted in a fresco in Salone Sistino at the Vatican. / Credit: Giovanni Guerra (1544-1618), Cesare Nebbia (1534-1614) e aiuti, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 28, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

In the summer of A.D. 325, more than 300 bishops gathered in Nicaea — located in modern-day northern Turkey — to promulgate a common Christian creed, settle Christological disputes that arose from the Arian heresy, and promote unity in the Church.

The first ecumenical council, known as the Council of Nicaea, is still accepted as authoritative by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and many Protestant denominations. The common beliefs still offer a strong element of unity in an otherwise fractured Christianity 1,700 years later.

During the council, the bishops established the initial formulation of the Nicene Creed, which is the profession of faith still recited at the Catholic Mass, Orthodox liturgies, and some Protestant services. It also rejected heretical Arian claims that Christ was a created being who lacked an eternal divine nature and rather confirmed that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father.

The council was called by Emperor Constantine — a convert to Christianity — less than 15 years after the empire halted the persecution of Christians and granted them the freedom to worship. It came just 20 years after the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who brutally persecuted Christians for their rejection of paganism.

“That council represents a fundamental stage in the development of the creed shared by all the Churches and ecclesial communities,” Pope Leo XIV said two weeks ago, acknowledging the 1,700th anniversary.

“While we are on the path towards the reestablishment of full communion among all Christians, we recognize that this unity can only be unity in faith,” the pontiff said.

The Arian heresy

The primary purpose of the council was to settle a major question about Christ’s divine nature and address Arianism, which was a heresy promoted by the priest Arius asserting that Jesus Christ was a created being and not eternal.

“Arius began to preach something that was scandalous to many Christian believers and [which] seemed incompatible to the Christian faith as witnessed to in Scripture and transmitted through the tradition of the Church,” Dominican Father Dominic Legge, the director of the Thomistic Institute and professor of theology, told CNA.

Arius wrote in “Thalia” that he believed the Father “made the Son” and “produced him as a son for himself by begetting him.” He wrote that “the Son was not always [in existence], for he was not [in existence] before his generation.” He asserted that Christ was not eternal but “came into existence by the Father’s will.” Arius contested that Christ “is not true God” but was rather “made God by participation.”

Legge said that Arius understood that “there’s an infinite gap between God and creatures,” but where he was mistaken was that “he thought that the Son was on the ‘creature’ side of that gap” and “not equal in divinity to God.”

“Therefore, he considered him to be the highest creature,” Legge added. “The first creature, but nonetheless a creature.”

Legge said that at Nicaea there was “a consensus of bishops with very different approaches to the mystery of God and they could see that Arius had to be wrong and so they condemned him and they affirmed that the Son is ‘God from God, true God from true God.’”

The language adopted at Nicaea expressly contradicted Arius, affirming Christ is “true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father.” It condemned Arius’ view as heresy. The vote was nearly unanimous with more than 300 bishops voting in favor of this text and only two siding with Arius.

St. Athanasius, one of the most outspoken opponents of Arianism at the council and in its aftermath, wrote in his First Discourse Against the Arians in the mid-fourth century that “the Scriptures declare the Son’s eternity.”

Athanasius notes, for example, the Gospel of St. John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He also cites Chapter 8 of the same Gospel in which Christ declares “before Abraham was, I am,” invoking the divine name used by God to indicate his eternity when appearing to Moses as the burning bush.

“The Lord himself says, ‘I am the Truth,’ not ‘I became the Truth,’ but always, ‘I am — I am the Shepherd — I am the Light‘ — and again, ‘Call me not, Lord and Master? And you call me well, for so I am,‘” Athanasius wrote. “Who, hearing such language from God, and the Wisdom, and Word of the Father, speaking of himself, will any longer hesitate about the truth, and not immediately believe that in the phrase ‘I am,‘ is signified that the Son is eternal and without beginning?”

Legge noted that Athanasius also warned that Arius’ position “threatened the central truth of Christianity that God became man for our salvation.”

Unifying the Church in the fourth century

Prior to the Council of Nicaea, bishops in the Church held many synods and councils to settle disputes that arose within Christianity.

This includes the Council of Jerusalem, which was an apostolic council detailed in Acts 15, and many local councils that did not represent the entire Church. Regional councils “have a kind of binding authority — but they’re not global,” according to Thomas Clemmons, a professor of Church history at The Catholic University of America.

When the Roman Empire halted its Christian persecution and Emperor Constantine converted to the faith, this allowed “the opportunity to have a more broad, ecumenical council,” Clemmons told CNA. Constantine embraced Christianity more than a decade before the council, though he was not actually baptized until moments before his death in A.D. 337.

Constantine saw a need for “a certain sense of unity,” he said, at a time with theological disputes, debates about the date of Easter, conflicts about episcopal jurisdictions, and canon law questions.

“His role was to unify and to have [those] other issues worked out,” Clemmons said.

The pursuit of unity helped produce the Nicene Creed, which Clemmons said “helps to clarify what more familiar scriptural language doesn’t.”

Neither the council nor the creed was universally adopted immediately. Clemmons noted that it was more quickly adopted in the East but took longer in the West. There were several attempts to overturn the council, but Clemmons said “it’s later tradition that will affirm it.”

“I don’t know if the significance of it was understood [at the time],” he said.

The dispute between Arians and defenders of Nicaea were tense for the next half century, with some emperors backing the creed and others backing Arianism. Ultimately, Clemmons said, the creed “convinces people over many decades but without the imperial enforcement you would expect.”

It was not until 380 when Emperor Theodosius declared that Nicene Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire. One year later, at the First Council of Constantinople, the Church reaffirmed the Council of Nicaea and updated the Nicene Creed by adding text about the Holy Spirit and the Church.

Common misconceptions

There are some prominent misconceptions about the Council of Nicaea that are prevalent in modern society.

Clemmons said the assertion that the Council of Nicaea established the biblical canon “is probably the most obvious” misconception. This subject was not debated at Nicaea and the council did not promulgate any teachings on this matter.

Another misconception, he noted, is the notion that the council established the Church and the papacy. Episcopal offices, including that of the pope (the bishop of Rome), were already in place and operating long before Nicaea, although the council did resolve some jurisdictional disputes.

Other misconceptions, according to Clemmons, is an asserted “novelty” of the process and the teachings. He noted that bishops often gathered in local councils and that the teachings defined at Nicaea were simply “the confirmation of the faith of the early Church.”

This article was first published on June 5, 2025, and has been updated.

Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople at an ecumenical event marking the 1,700th anniversary of Nicene Creed, in Iznik, Turkey, on November 28th, 2025. / Screenshot: Vatican Media

Iznik, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea on Friday in the Turkish city historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed, calling Christians to overcome “the scandal of divisions” and to renew their commitment to unity.

The pope spoke during an ecumenical prayer service held at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos on the shore of Lake Iznik, southeast of Istanbul. The gathering marked one of the most symbolic moments of his apostolic visit to Turkey, which has focused heavily on ecumenical and interreligious outreach.

“We are all invited to overcome the scandal of divisions,” he said, urging Christians to nurture “the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life.”

Pope Leo and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, were welcomed by two senior Orthodox bishops before proceeding to a platform beside the submerged ruins of the basilica. The two leaders stood before icons of Christ and of the council and lit candles together.

Iznik, formerly Nicaea, is located about 130 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. The remains of an early Christian basilica dedicated to Saint Neophytos, a young martyr killed in 303 during the persecutions of Diocletian, were first identified in 2014 after aerial photographs revealed the outline of a submerged church. The basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740, and its ruins are now visible from the lakeshore.

In his homily, Leo said the anniversary was “a precious opportunity to ask ourselves who Jesus Christ is in the lives of men and women today, and who he is for each one of us personally.” He cautioned against reducing Christ to “a kind of charismatic leader or superman,” recalling Arius’ denial of Christ’s divinity and the council’s defense of the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus.

“If God did not become man, how can mortal creatures participate in his immortal life?” the pope asked, emphasizing what was at stake in the fourth-century debate.

Leo said the Nicene confession of faith remains a foundation for unity among Christians worldwide. Quoting the creed, he underlined the proclamation of Christ as “consubstantial with the Father,” describing it as “a profound bond already uniting all Christians.” Citing St. Augustine, he added: “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”

A reconciled Christianity, he continued, can “bear credible witness to the Gospel” and offer “a proclamation of hope for all.”

The pope also extended his appeal for fraternity beyond the Christian world, insisting that authentic recognition of God as Father requires honoring all people as brothers and sisters. He warned against using religion “to justify war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism,” and called instead for “fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation.”

Pope Leo’s schedule in Turkey includes a series of ecumenical events, among them the signing of a joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I on Nov. 29 at the Patriarchal Palace. His trip also carries an interreligious dimension. Earlier on Friday he met the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, discussing the visit as a sign of peace and support for all religious communities. On Saturday, Nov. 29, he will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.