A joint Orthodox-Catholic pilgrimage to Rome, Constantinople, and Nicea “is one of the abundant fruits of the ecumenical movement aimed at restoring full unity among all Christ’s disciples,” Pope Leo XIV told participants in the pilgrimage on Thursday, as he welcomed them to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.

The pilgrimage “From Rome to New Rome” comprises fifty Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Latin Catholic pilgrims from the United States, and is being led by the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

In his greetings, Pope Leo noted that the pilgrimage is intended “to return to the sources”: to Rome, where Sts Peter and Paul were martyred; Constantinople—now Istanbul—associated with St Andrew; and to Nicea, the site of the first Ecumenical Council 1700 years ago this year.

The Pope went on to highlight the common celebration of Easter in 2025, observed on the same date by those who follow both the Gregorian and Julian liturgical calendars, which allowed all Christians to proclaim together the Easter Alleluia, “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!”

Those words, Pope Leo XIV said, proclaim the passion and resurrection of Jesus, “the Lamb that was slain” to redeem us from “the darkness of sin and death.” The redemption won by Christ “inspires us with great hope” while also calling us “to be witnesses and bearers of hope,” recalling the motto of the Jubilee Year, pilgrims of hope.

“It is my hope that your pilgrimage will confirm all of you in the hope born of our faith in the Risen Lord!” Pope Leo said.