Pope Leo welcomes Cardinal Tobin and Archbishop Elpidophoros
On day three of the “From Old Rome to New Rome” pilgrimage, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of America led pilgrims to Pope Leo XIV’s summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, where the Holy Father warmly welcomed them.
Pope Leo addressed the group, comprised of Latin Catholic, Byzantine Catholic, and Greek Orthodox believers, telling them that their pilgrimage from Rome to Constantinople (today known as Istanbul) was “one of the abundant fruits of the ecumenical movement aimed at restoring full unity among all Christ’s disciples.”
The Pope highlighted the significance of the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which the pilgrimage commemorates. He also noted the common celebration by Catholic and Orthodox Churches of a common date for Easter in 2025.
Pope Leo said that Christ’s passion and resurrection “inspires us with great hope” and “calls us to be witnesses and bearers 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 told the pilgrims. He asked them “to bring greetings and my embrace, an embrace of peace, to my venerable brother Patriarch Bartholomew” when they travel to Constantinople.
(John TouheyJuly 17, 2025 on jerseycatholic.org)
An eventful beginning to a historic pilgrimage
Cardinal Tobin told Jersey Catholic that the pilgrims are grateful for the historic, faith-filled journey they are making together.
“This ecumenical pilgrimage coincides with two other noteworthy events,” Cardinal Tobin said. “In 2025, the Christian world will mark the 17th centenary of the First Ecumenical Council, which took place in Nicaea in 325 A.D. and formulated the profession of faith that unites all disciples of Christ: the Nicene Creed. This year is also a Great Jubilee in the Catholic Church, calling us to walk together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Gratitude for our shared faith and hope deepens the love among the participants in this ecumenical pilgrimage.”
The first three days of the nine-day ecumenical pilgrimage have proven eventful. Day two found the pilgrims exploring numerous holy sites around Rome, including stops at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Vatican City, and the Catacombs of San Sebastiano.
As reported by the Orthodox Observer, the group also visited the Vatican Grottoes under St. Peter’s Basilica to hold a prayer service for Christian unity, led by Cardinal Tobin. It was the first of four such services that Cardinal Tobin and Archbishop Elpidophorus will lead. The moments of prayer will focus on God’s work in creation and allow pilgrims “to pause and worship together in recognition of what our two traditions share,” according to the Observer.
View the photo gallery to see images of the meeting of Cardinal Tobin and Archbishop Elpidophoros with Pope Leo, along with highlights from day two of the pilgrimage, in jerseycatholic.org web site.
