US Vice President JD Vance Seeks to Join Pope Leo's Historic Visit to Turkey's Ancient Christian Site
United States Vice President JD Vance is planning to travel to Turkey later this month to accompany Pope Leo on a historic visit to the ancient city of Iznik/Nicomedia, where Christian leaders will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. The November 28 ceremony would mark a significant moment in Christian-Turkish relations and underscore the site's importance in early Christianity's development.
According to Middle East Eye, which first reported the planned visit, Vance, who is Catholic, hopes to participate in the joint commemoration alongside Pope Leo and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the site of an ancient basilica submerged in Lake Iznik. The publication's sources indicate that while discussions are ongoing and Vance's participation has not been finalized, Turkish officials expect the vice president to attend the historic gathering.
The timing appears favorable for Vance's participation, as he is already scheduled to be in the Middle East on November 27 to celebrate Thanksgiving with American troops. Sources familiar with the planning suggest he would then travel to Turkey for the religious ceremony the following day. The US embassy in Ankara has not yet commented on the potential visit.
Pope Leo's journey to Nicomedia marks his first official foreign visit since assuming the papacy, highlighting the profound significance of the location to Christianity. The First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD, brought together bishops from across the Christian world to resolve crucial theological disputes that would shape early church doctrine for centuries to come.
The focal point of the visit will be the remains of an underwater basilica in Lake Iznik, measuring approximately 20 by 40 meters. Archaeological evidence increasingly suggests this structure is the long-lost Church of the Holy Fathers, a building frequently referenced in Christian sources but never definitively located until recent discoveries. The identification has gained growing acceptance among scholars studying early Christianity.
Turkish officials believe that if Vance proceeds with the visit, he will likely pay a courtesy call on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders previously met during Erdogan's White House visit in September, establishing a diplomatic foundation for such an encounter.
Professor Mustafa şahin of Bursa Uludag University, who leads the excavation efforts at the site, has revealed fascinating details about the basilica's history. Originally constructed as a chapel dedicated to Saint Neophytos, the structure was destroyed in an earthquake in 358 AD before being rebuilt after 380 AD. Archaeological teams have uncovered 37 graves at the site, many of which have been carefully restored and reburied in their original locations to maintain the site's authenticity.
The Vatican has demonstrated its commitment to the visit's success by dispatching a 38-member delegation to Iznik this week to finalize preparations for the pope's arrival. This advance team is coordinating logistics and ensuring appropriate arrangements for what promises to be a momentous occasion.
Photo: The White House