Address of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the opening of the Sixth International Conference of the World Council of Churches, organized by the Commission on Faith and Order of the Council, held at the LOGOS Papal Center of St. Bishoy Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun – Egypt, from Friday, October 24 to Tuesday, October 28, 2025:

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the General Coordinator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, the General Coordinator of the Commission on Faith and Order, the Director of the Faith and Order Unit, esteemed guests, and honorable attendees—I would like to welcome you to Egypt, to the Logos Conference Center, in this sacred place within St. Bishoy Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun, in the wilderness of Scetis (Sheheet), which has been a beacon and inspiration for monastic life since the fourth century AD.

The Apostolic Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15) that discussed the issue of Judaization and the conversion from a Jewish background to the Christian faith, was the foundation of the idea of ecclesiastical councils. For in every council that was held, there was a concern or a problem to be addressed, there was discussion and dialogue, there was leadership and administration, and above all, the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit—was the Spirit of power, love, counsel, and success in every ecclesiastical council.

The Council of Nicaea:

It was convened by Emperor Constantine the Great after Christianity became a permitted religion in the Roman Empire, with the aim of achieving unity of faith following the emergence of severe doctrinal divisions, and to establish peace throughout the empire. The controversy arose from Arius, a priest from Alexandria, who taught that the Son was not equal to the Father in essence, but was created by God and had a beginning in time. This teaching threatened the unity of the Christian faith and caused a great uproar in the Church. This reminds us of the danger of individual interpretation and teaching without returning to the roots found in the Holy Gospels and the teachings of the holy Fathers, the teachers of the Church.

Here the role of leadership appeared clearly:

The council convened with the attendance of approximately 318 bishops from different regions of the world under the leadership of Pope Alexander, the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria, accompanied by his young deacon Athanasius, who played a pivotal role in defending the divinity of the Son.

The council made several decisions:

It condemned the teachings of Arius and excommunicated him from the Holy Communion; it affirmed the divinity of the Son as “begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father”; and it formulated the Nicene Creed, which became the foundational reference of the catholic (universal) Christian faith.

The council also decided to determine a unified date for the celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection to be observed in all the churches of the world on one day, separate from the Jewish calendar. It likewise issued a number of ecclesiastical canons regarding clergy organization and church discipline.

The Council of Nicaea had a profound impact on establishing the theological foundations of the Christian faith, especially regarding the mystery of the Holy Trinity. The council confirmed the oneness of the divine essence among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and set limitations to the heresies that diminished the divinity of Christ. It also established a new model of ecumenical dialogue, gathering bishops from all parts of the world and affirming the principle that doctrinal truth is decided by ecumenical councils, not by individual opinions.

From a political perspective:

The Council of Nicaea represented the first official cooperation between the Church and the Roman empire, when Emperor Constantine intervened to ensure unity of faith as a means of preserving unity in the empire. From that moment began a new relationship between temporal and spiritual authority—a relationship that profoundly influenced the history of Christianity through the ages.

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea was not merely a theological event but a historical turning point that defined the identity of the catholic Church. Through it, the true faith was preserved from deviation and heresy, and the foundation of the Creed was laid, which continues to be recited in the liturgy of the churches of the world to this day. Thus, Nicaea may rightly be considered the true starting point for the precise articulation of the Orthodox Christian faith in its universal form and a perpetual example of the councils’ role in preserving the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic faith that we received from the Apostles and holy Fathers, and which has been preserved in the Church of God through the generations.

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea is regarded as the cornerstone for the development of Christian theology in subsequent centuries, for it clarified the precise concepts of the relationship between the Father and the Son, established the principle of consubstantiality, and through the Creed defined the dimensions of the catholic Christian faith concerning the very essence of the Holy Trinity. Thus, the Creed became the primary doctrinal reference preserving the unity of the Church and establishing the foundation of the upright orthodox faith, which has continued to enlighten believers generation after generation.

Where are we today with the Council of Nicaea and visible unity?

The meeting of the Commission on Faith and Order is held in commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 AD), one of the most pivotal events in the history of Christian thought and ecclesiastical theology. It marked a turning point in defining the parameters of true faith and formulating the catholic Creed that the Church has handed down through the ages.

Recalling the memory of the Council of Nicaea is not merely a commemoration of the past but a renewed call to steadfastness in the apostolic faith and to openness to constructive dialogue that brings the churches together in a journey toward true unity based on faith, truth, and love.

What the Fathers of Nicaea declared about the faith in the Son—“One God, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father”—remains the cornerstone upon which Christian doctrine is built in every age and place.

Thus, this meeting becomes an opportunity to reflect on the Church’s faithfulness in preserving the faith and affirming her mission in a world that witnesses intellectual and cultural plurality—making it the responsibility of the Commission on Faith and Order to continue striving to renew the testimony to divine truth within the framework of ecclesial unity.

The goal of Christian unity is a noble one: that we may truly be one in Christ, members of one body—this unity for which our good Lord prayed: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).

We believe that true unity is unity of faith, whose visible expression is full communion in the holy Mysteries: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

We believe that the path toward unity is not easy. The divisions that arose after Nicaea fragmented the Church for many years, even until today, and these divisions cannot be resolved except through theological dialogue.

The Fathers saw the preservation of the unity of the one body as a divine calling and an ecclesiastical responsibility, practiced in the spirit of love, meekness, and humility, coupled with knowledge of truth and sound teaching. Therefore, they did not hesitate to confront anyone who tried to tear apart the one body—whether through heresies, schisms, doctrinal deviations, or strange teachings that were not according to the spirit of the Gospel and the teachings of the Fathers. This concern was manifested most vividly in the ecumenical councils, foremost among them the First Council of Nicaea, where the Fathers stood united in defending the apostolic faith against the heresy of Arius, affirming that unity of faith is the guarantee of the unity of the catholic Church.

Among the theological and ecclesial issues of particular importance in our present time is the matter of dialogue among the churches. Just as the Fathers at Nicaea gathered in a spirit of fellowship to reach a unified expression of faith, so too the Church today is called to dialogue based on mutual understanding and mutual respect within the framework of one faith.

A central question imposes itself in this context: Why do we dialogue?

Our intention and mission must be clear before engaging in any theological dialogue, lest the dialogue turn into debate or mere exchange of opinions without purpose. The primary goal of dialogue is to know and understand the other, and to seek how each ecclesial tradition expresses the shared faith in its own distinctive way that reflects the richness of heritage.

True dialogue is not based on imposing one’s opinion or defending oneself, but on mutual listening that allows the other to express his faith freely and openly, in the light of the truth revealed in Christ, who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

Theological dialogue, in this sense, is a journey toward shared understanding of matters of faith—not an attempt to eliminate or dissolve differences, but to discover the depth of the one faith that unites the catholic Church. As one of the contemporary fathers expressed it: dialogue is not a concession of faith but a testimony to truth in the spirit of love.

Theological dialogue is founded first and foremost on the art of listening, for listening is the path to mutual understanding. When each side is given space to express its faith freely and openly, new horizons open before the Church for closeness and unity. Dialogue, therefore, is not meant to cancel differences or deny diversity, but to know the other.

In this light, we affirm that dialogue is not a compromise of faith or a neglect of doctrine, but a testimony to truth in the spirit of love and a continual striving toward the realization of the unity for which Christ prayed, saying: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” (John 17:21).

Dear attendees:

Your presence in Egypt, hosted by the Coptic Church in this place where the anchorite fathers lived and produced the great saints among the monastic fathers, should be an inspiration to us all, to see how the lives and relationships among the saints were.

Saint Athanasius and his relationship with Saint Antony, the father of monks; this discipleship and spiritual friendship profoundly influenced the entire Church through the spirituality and prayer of Saint Antony the Great, which was reflected in the purity of Athanasius’ teachings, intertwined with a life of holiness.

I invite you in this blessed time, during your presence among us

to get to know our Coptic Orthodox Church—this ancient Church that carries her true faith and profound patristic heritage, a faith watered by the blood of martyrs through generations and preserved faithfully through the ages as a sacred trust handed down from the early Fathers.

I also invite you to know our country, Egypt, the land of the Evangelist St. Mark, which embraced the Christian faith since the dawn of history, witnessed the birth of monasticism, and saw the flourishing of theology and spirituality.

Egypt, with her ancient history and civilization extending over thousands of years, still offers to the world a living testimony of steadfast faith and universal love. It is a source of pride and joy for us to welcome you to our Coptic Church and our homeland, Egypt, which today is honored to host this important event in the journey of the World Council of Churches and in the history of the unity of faith and order. Our gathering here stands as a radiant sign affirming that Egypt, together with the Middle East and Africa, continues to be a living bridge among the churches and a place that bears the message of hope and unity before the eyes of the entire Christian world.

Let us lift up our hearts in thanksgiving to God, who has brought us together in this blessed meeting, asking Him to grant us the spirit of wisdom and understanding that we may continue the journey toward achieving unity of faith in truth and love. Let us pray together that this meeting may bear new fruit on the path of unity, dialogue, and shared edification among the churches, and that our Coptic Church and our homeland Egypt may remain a beacon of faith, witnessing to the unity of the catholic Church through the ages.

I thank you very much.

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