Pope Francis to Travel to Turkey to Commemorate First Council in Church History
Pope Francis will travel to Turkey to commemorate the formation of the first council in the history of the Church.
Pope Francis, leader of Catholics worldwide, announced his trip to Turkey in remarks made yesterday (Sunday, June 30). He stated that he will travel to Turkey to celebrate the anniversary of the first council of the Christian Church. Pope Francis emphasized regarding this trip, saying: “This is a journey that I wish with all my being to undertake.”
Christianity was embroiled in extensive debates in the early centuries regarding how Jesus Christ could be both God and human, and the Church made a decision on this matter at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. This council was the first ecclesiastical council in the world, formed in 325 AD in response to the views of Arius, a clergyman from Alexandria. This council is now known as “Iznik.”
Pope Francis also intends to travel to Asia and Oceania in September. This will be his longest trip in the past 11 years. The Pope will make stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, and at the end of September will travel for 4 days to Brussels and Luxembourg.
