Pope Leo XIV welcomed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople to the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on 30 May 2025, for a private audience. This meeting marks the second encounter between the two religious leaders since the election of Pope Leo XIV. The discussions during the meeting focused on the Pope’s planned official visit to Turkey later this year.
The morning meeting was described as “very friendly and cordial” by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The two leaders discussed the details of the papal visit, as well as other current topics. This meeting builds on their initial encounter on 19 May, where they first explored the possibility of a papal journey to Nicaea for the upcoming council anniversary.
The meeting highlights the ongoing efforts towards ecumenical dialogue and cooperation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The friendly and cordial nature of the meeting suggests a positive direction in the relationship between the two churches.