Pope Leo XIV is visiting Turkey, sparking optimism about the reopening of the Halki Theological School. The Halki Theological School, closed since 1971, is a symbol of Orthodox heritage and religious freedom. Turkish President Erdogan has indicated a willingness to reopen the seminary, potentially influenced by discussions with U.S. President Trump. The Pope's visit includes commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Renovations are underway at the Halki Theological School in anticipation of its reopening.
21 days ago
Pope Leo XIV is set to visit Turkey starting November 27, 2025, marking his inaugural foreign journey as pontiff.1 The trip coincides with the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a pivotal event in early Christian theology, where he will join Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in commemorations.1 Following Turkey, the pope plans to travel to Lebanon for the second phase of his itinerary.1
The Halki Theological School, founded in 1844 on Heybeliada Island near Istanbul, has long served as a training ground for Greek Orthodox patriarchs and clergy, including Bartholomew I.1 It symbolizes Orthodox heritage and has been shuttered since 1971 due to Turkish laws limiting private higher education.1 Despite legal reforms allowing private universities, the seminary remains closed, drawing appeals from global religious leaders and human rights groups.1
Recent discussions between a committee from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and the Turkish government signal progress toward reopening the school, potentially by the next academic year.1 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed willingness during a September 2025 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, tying it to reciprocal rights improvements for Muslims in Greece.1 Renovations are underway, with clergy quarters and classrooms nearly complete.1
Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who once served at the Halki monastery, views the closure as a "political and diplomatic anachronism" that harms Turkey's image.1 He emphasizes the school's role in fostering dialogue, coexistence, and rejection of prejudice, calling it a model needed worldwide.1 Elpidophoros, born in Istanbul, studied abroad due to the closure but remains deeply connected to the institution.1
The seminary's fate tests Turkey's commitment to minority rights in a nation of nearly 86 million, where Christians number 200,000 to 370,000.1 Erdogan's government has advanced reforms since 2002, such as returning confiscated properties and opening worship sites, but issues persist for unrecognized groups like Protestants.1 Incidents include a 2024 Islamic State attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul and the 2020 reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, which faced global backlash.1 Turkey rejects the ecumenical status of the Istanbul-based Patriarchate, limiting it to the local Greek Orthodox community under the 1923 treaty.1
Visitors like Agnes Kaltsogianni from Greece see the reopening as a catalyst for cultural affinity and improved ties between Turkey and Greece, historic rivals.1 The event could enhance religious minority protections and signal Turkey's openness to international religious dialogue.1 Overall, the pope's visit amplifies hopes for progress amid ongoing tensions.1
Pope’s visit signals potential revival of Halki seminary and ecumenical dialogue
The recent visit by Pope Leo XIV, amid the ongoing celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, underscores a pivotal moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations. This engagement not only signals hope for the revival of the historic Halki Seminary but also reinforces the Church's commitment to ecumenical dialogue, drawing on shared faith traditions to bridge centuries-old divides. From a Catholic perspective, such initiatives echo the call for unity rooted in the Nicene Creed, emphasizing synodality, mutual respect, and collaborative witness in a fragmented world.
The Halki Seminary, formally known as the Patriarchal School of Theology on the island of Heybeliada near Istanbul, stands as a cornerstone of Orthodox theological education and a symbol of the Greek Orthodox heritage in Turkey. Established in 1844 under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, it served as a vital center for forming priests, theologians, and leaders, fostering a blend of Eastern patristic tradition and modern academic rigor. Its curriculum, influenced by Western models yet deeply anchored in Orthodox ethos, produced generations of scholars who contributed to the universal aspects of Christianity, much like the figures who shaped Greek theology in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the seminary's closure in 1971 by the Turkish government marked a profound loss, depriving the Orthodox Church of its primary training ground and exacerbating tensions over religious freedoms in the region. Despite repeated international appeals, including from Greek and global leaders, it remains shuttered, highlighting ongoing challenges to minority religious communities in Turkey.
Pope Leo XIV's visit evokes this history by directly engaging with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, whose see in Constantinople (modern Istanbul) is intrinsically linked to Halki. In addressing participants of an Orthodox-Catholic ecumenical pilgrimage, the Pope extended greetings and an "embrace of peace" to Patriarch Bartholomew, referencing the shared apostolic roots of Peter and Paul in Rome and Andrew in Constantinople. This gesture aligns with the Catholic Church's recognition of the seminary's role in sustaining Orthodox formation, a concern echoed in broader ecumenical efforts to support the Eastern Churches' missions in their historic territories. The potential revival of Halki, hinted at through diplomatic overtures during the visit, could restore this institution as a beacon of theological vitality, allowing Orthodox clergy to be trained locally without reliance on foreign seminaries—a step toward affirming the dignity and autonomy of the Eastern tradition.
The Pope's itinerary, tied to the Nicaea anniversary, amplifies the ecumenical dimensions of his visit. The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, convened under Emperor Constantine, was not merely a doctrinal milestone but a synodal model for unity, where bishops from East and West professed the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father, laying the foundation for the Creed that binds all Christians. This shared patrimony—the Nicene Symbol—remains "the common patrimony of all Christians," recited in liturgies across traditions and symbolizing a faith that transcends divisions. Pope Leo XIV's emphasis on joint commemorations, including plans for an ecumenical event near Nicaea's site, positions the visit as a catalyst for deeper dialogue, inviting Orthodox participation in reflecting on synodality and the Church's universal mission.
From the Catholic viewpoint, this aligns with the post-Vatican II imperative for "dialogue of truth and love," as articulated by predecessors like Pope John Paul II. In messages to Orthodox leaders, he stressed intensifying fraternal relations between particular Churches, clarifying theological disputes through Scripture and Tradition, and fostering exchanges at academic and formative levels—precisely the roles Halki once played. Recent papal addresses under Pope Francis and now Leo XIV build on this, affirming that unity implies "neither absorption nor fusion" but respects diverse traditions as part of the Church's treasure. The visit's focus on Halki revival fits this framework: reopening the seminary would enable Orthodox theology to flourish, countering perceptions of proselytism and promoting reciprocal knowledge, as urged in joint commissions addressing canonical territories and pastoral collaboration.
Moreover, the timing coincides with providential alignments, such as the unified Easter date in 2025, which Nicaea sought to establish for ecclesial harmony. Pope Leo XIV's hope for a common Easter celebration underscores how practical steps, like seminary revival, can heal pastoral fractures—divided families, weakened witness—and bolster missionary proclamation of Christ's resurrection. This ecumenical synergy is evident in the Synod on Synodality's final document, which calls the Nicaea anniversary an opportunity for "forms of synodality among Christians of all traditions" and bold initiatives for unity.
Reviving Halki faces hurdles, including geopolitical sensitivities in Turkey and lingering Orthodox concerns over Catholic expansion in Eastern territories. Yet, Catholic sources portray the Pope's visit as a "dialogue of charity," prioritizing mutual support over competition—assisting Orthodox missions while exercising pastoral care for the faithful. Pope Leo XIV's interactions, such as with the Assyrian Church delegation, extend this to broader dialogues, modeling full communion without domination and drawing on first-millennium inspirations. Theologically, Nicaea's legacy reminds us that unity is a divine gift, not human imposition, received through the Holy Spirit's guidance. As the International Theological Commission notes, what unites—faith in the Triune God, Christ as Savior—far outweighs divisions, inviting renewed confession of the Nicene faith.
In contemporary terms, Halki's potential reopening could address modern crises: forming leaders amid secularism, environmental challenges (a priority for Patriarch Bartholomew), and conflicts like those in Ukraine and the Holy Land. It would embody "practical Christianity," uniting service for peace and justice, as echoed in ecumenical milestones from Stockholm 1925 to today's Jubilee. Pope Leo XIV's Jubilee motto, "Peregrinantes in Spes" (Pilgrims in Hope), frames this visit as a hopeful pilgrimage, confirming participants in the risen Lord's promise.
In essence, the Pope's visit heralds a revival not just of a seminary but of ecumenical momentum, rooted in Nicaea's enduring creed. By supporting Halki's restoration and deepening dialogues, the Catholic Church affirms its irrevocable path toward visible unity, praying and working together as the Spirit wills. This moment invites all Christians to doxological contrition—praising God amid repentance for divisions—while bearing witness to Christ's lordship in a world yearning for reconciliation.