Pope and Patriarch Issue Joint plea for Christian Unity and Global Peace
ISTANBUL – In a meaningful ecumenical gesture, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I have jointly issued a call for deepened Christian unity and an immediate end to global conflicts. The message, released November 29, 2025, from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul (the Phanar), underscores the urgent need for collaboration among Christians and all people of goodwill to address the world’s escalating crises.
The joint statement emphasizes the importance of building upon existing fraternal contacts, prayer, and cooperation, urging clergy and theologians within their respective churches to “joyfully accept the fruits gained so far and to work for their further growth.” Beyond internal Christian reconciliation, the leaders explicitly linked the pursuit of unity to the broader aspiration for peace, stating the goal “includes the aspiration to make a essential and life-giving contribution to peace among all peoples.”
the appeal comes amid widespread violence and conflict globally, prompting the Pope and Patriarch to directly address those in positions of power. “We appeal to those who bear civil and political duty to do everything in their power to ensure that the tragedy of war comes to an immediate end,” the statement reads, adding a plea for all individuals “of good will to join in this fervent request.”
Critically, the leaders condemned the justification of violence through religion, asserting that “authentic interreligious dialog…is essential for the coexistence of people of different traditions and cultures.” They specifically referenced the 60th anniversary of nostra Aetate, the landmark 1965 Vatican II declaration that revolutionized the Catholic Church’s relationship with other religions, as a catalyst for continued collaboration toward a “more just and solidarity-based world.”
The message also highlights the importance of addressing root causes of conflict, including “indifference, domineering, greed for profit and xenophobia.” Expressing unwavering faith in God’s presence and providence, the Pope and Patriarch concluded with a prayer for all humanity, invoking the words of Colossians 2:2: “that they might potentially be comforted, joined together in love, so that they may attain to deep and rich understanding and to know the mystery of God, which is Christ.”
