Pope Leo XIV pushing for unity; yes, he is expected to be ecumenical

Pope Leo XIV gave his inaugural enthronement message at St. Peter’s Square:

Pope Leo XIV calls for unity in inaugural Mass at the Vatican

May 18, 2025

Pope Leo XIV called for unity in the Catholic Church during his inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square … During the Mass, the pontiff appeared to choke up when the two potent symbols of the papacy were placed on him – the pallium woolen stole over his shoulders and the fisherman’s ring on his finger. …

“I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said. “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest.” …

“Let us build a church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,” Leo said, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-inaugural-mass-vatican/

In my book titled The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV? I have the following:

Leo XIV will be ecumenical. …

From May 20, 325 A.D./C.E. to August 325, the Roman Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea. One of his political objectives was to get ecumenical unity in certain matters. In 2025, there are meetings to mark the 1700^th anniversary of this, which are expected to include ecumenical discussions.

Pope Francis had expected to participate. So we would expect that his replacement, Pope Leo XIV, to get involved somehow in this. Actually, before the conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV was called, Patriarch Barthlomew of Constantinople extended an invitation for the next pope to attend the 1700^th anniversary of Nicea. Like Emperor Constantine, Pope Leo XIV would like to ecumenical reconciliation for religious and political reasons.

Last week, Pope Leo met with eastern Catholic churches (see Pope Leo XIV met with ‘Churches of the East’–what did 1st century Christians believe?). He urged them to hold fast to their traditions–yet sadly, they changed from the original faith (watch: Original Church of the East).

His appeal towards unity is NOT limited Roman Catholics and churches that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome.

And there are other groups that he wants and that want to be more ecumenical with him.

Notice the following:

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by Metropolitan Job of Pisidia and Evlogios, Codicographer of the Holy and Sacred Synod, departed for Rome to attend the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV.

In Rome, Metropolitan Polycarpos of Italy will also join the Patriarchal delegation.

On the morning of Monday, May 19, the Patriarch will have a private meeting and discussion with the Pope and is expected to return to the Phanar late in the evening of the same day.

It is worth noting that Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, who serves in southern Turkey, is the Orthodox co-chairman of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. 05/17/25 https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-departed-for-rome-to-enthronement-of-pope-leo-xiv/

The Pope said he is “preparing” to visit Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

Reminded during his audience with reporters on Monday of Pope Francis’ plans to visit Iznik, the modern day site of the council, Pope Leo XIV replied: “I know, we are preparing for it.” It was understood that Francis had hoped to make the visit at some point in May.

Speaking ahead of the conclave, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I had said he hoped Francis’ successor would join him on the “pilgrimage” to the site of the first Ecumenical Council, but suggested it might take place in November instead.

Bartholomew was among the Orthodox leaders to welcome Pope Leo’s election last week, voicing hope that he would continue his predecessor’s efforts to promote Christian unity. 05/14/25 https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/pope-leo-plans-to-visit-turkey-for-nicaea-anniversary/

So, the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch is interested in ecumenical matters with Pope Leo XIV, and vice versa. Ecumenical steps are happening.

Notice some other statements in my book The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV?:

Abbott Joachim (died 1202): A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels … he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church … Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world …

Even though the Bible warns against end time Babylon (cf. Revelation 18:4; Jeremiah 50,51), Abbot Joachim is trying to teach that it is good. …

Here are some Roman Catholic warnings about the type of unification that some look forward to:

Michal Semin: Our Lady spoke of the annihilation of nations…The European Union is intent on destroying nation states, suppressing national identities and borders, so that we can happily live in an always progressing supra-national community of EU faithful.

Priest O’Connor (20^th century?): This final false prophet will be a bishop of the church and will lead all religions into becoming one.

Priest H. Kramer (20^th century): In the vision of the Seer now appears a second beast rising out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon…In other places he is called the false prophet … This prophet may re-establish the pagan Roman Empire and build the “Great Harlot”, Babylon … The False Prophet … will persuade all infidels, apostates and apostate nations to worship and adore him … Antichrist “sitteth in the temple of God” (2 Thes. II. 4). This is not the ancient Temple in Jerusalem … this temple is shown to be a Catholic Church … The False Prophet will proclaim the resurrection of the Roman Empire.

Thus, while some Roman Catholic prophecies praise a new religious order, many others indicate that a new type of ‘Catholicism’ will be false to that religion and not be good for Europe. This also seems to be consistent with an Eastern Orthodox understanding of the last false religious power coming from Rome:

Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos (20^th century): The army of Antichrist is made up of the worldly powers, mainly the Roman Empire, symbolized by the two beasts and the harlot woman (Rev. 11:7; 13:1-17; cf. Dan. 7:11-12) … The final confrontation with evil is presented in chapters 19 and 20…The war is waged by the beast and the false prophet. Both of these are organs of Satan, representing the political and religious authority of Rome (Rev. 13:1-18).

Whatever new order that the Great Monarch (who is to be crowned the leader of the Roman Empire according to other writings) implements with Rome will not be faithful to the teachings of Christ or His original faithful followers.

Therefore a “false pope” is expected, and a great loss of Catholic members to his religion is prophesied. Might this be in the works now? Could Pope Leo XIV work for this?

While Pope Francis took ecumenical steps, could Pope Leo XIV be the one that will seal unity with the Eastern Orthodox Catholics?

He may well be.

What I wish he would do, is to heed the following scripture–which is shown below from two Roman Catholic translations of the Bible:

3 Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. (Jude 3, DRB)

3 My dear friends, at a time when I was eagerly looking forward to writing to you about the salvation that we all share, I felt that I must write to you encouraging you to fight hard for the faith which has been once and for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3, NJB)

He hinted that the churches of the east, that are in communion with Rome, should do that–and they should.

But the Church of Rome, as well as all other churches, should do so as well.

Some items of related interest may include:

Early Christianity in Edessa and the Church of the East Could there have been Christian leaders there? Might Judas of Jerusalem went there? Could Macarius have been a faithful Christian?Here is a link to a related sermon video: Original Church of the East.

Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.

The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV? This 154 page book has biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies related to the last pope, an antipope who will be the final Antichrist. It is also available on Kindle: The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV?-Kindle.