A historic meeting took place on Monday in the Vatican between Pope Leo XIV and His Eminence Metropolitan Polykarpos, the leading Greek Orthodox Bishop of Italy.
Having gathered in an atmosphere of “brotherly warmth,” this marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between the Holy See and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
This morning, Pope Leo met with His Eminence Polycarpos, an Orthodox bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He serves as the Metropolitan of Italy, meaning he is the senior Orthodox hierarch representing the Ecumenical Patriarch in Italy.
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Metropolitan Polykarpos and the Orthodox bridge
Since his enthronement in 2021, Metropolitan Polykarpos has been a tireless advocate for the “ecumenism of life.” He oversees a jurisdiction that acts as a vital bridge between the East and West, headquartered at the historic Cathedral of San Giorgio dei Greci in Venice.
His leadership was recently highlighted during the Bari Ecumenical Pact, signed in early 2026, in which he emphasized that “true unity does not cancel differences but transfigures them into communion.” According to recent estimates, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis serves around 150,000 to 200,000 faithful.
Pope Leo and Metropolitan Polykarpos discuss a common Easter
According to reports, among the issues discussed on Monday was the proposal for a joint celebration of Easter. With the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea serving as a catalyst, both leaders expressed a desire to resolve the liturgical discrepancy that has separated the two traditions for centuries. Pope Leo XIV noted that a common date for the Resurrection would be a “luminous sign of hope” for a fractured world.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to the “Nicaea Path,” focusing on the foundational theology that unites all Christians.
Related: Patriarch Bartholomew Pushes for Shared Orthodox-Catholic Easter Date
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