On Saturday, June 28, 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV of Rome welcomed a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Vatican celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of the Church of Rome. Leading the delegation was His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel, Geron of Chalcedon. In the message below, Pope Leo briefly recounted the modern rapprochement between the sister Churches, and expressed his confidence that, by God’s grace, efforts toward full unity would continue.
Address of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the occasion of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Your Eminences,
Dear Brothers in Christ,
I am especially happy to welcome, for the first time after my election as Bishop of Rome and successor of the Apostle Peter, this Delegation representing the sister Church of Constantinople as we celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of the Church of Rome. This traditional exchange of Delegations between the two Churches on the occasion of the respective feasts of their Patron Saints is a sign of the profound communion already existing between us, and a reflection of the fraternal bond that united the Apostles Peter and Andrew.
After centuries of disagreements and misunderstanding, the resumption of genuine dialogue between the sister Churches of Rome and Constantinople was made possible through courageous and farsighted steps taken by Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras. Their venerable successors to the Sees of Rome and Constantinople have pursued with conviction the same path of reconciliation, thus further strengthening our close relations. Here I would like to mention the witness of sincere closeness to the Catholic Church given by the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew, by his personal participation in the funeral of the late Pope Francis, and again at the Mass inaugurating my Pontificate.
