On 7 June 2025, in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV received the participants in the Ecumenical Symposium dedicated to the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, entitled "Nicaea and the Church of the Third Millennium: Towards Catholic-Orthodox Unity". This meeting represented a significant moment in the ecumenical journey of the Church, with the aim of reflecting on the Nicene faith, on synodality and on the question of the date of Easter. The Pope's speech offered food for thought and raised crucial questions for Christian unity.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the Council of Nicaea is not only a historical event, but a "compass" that continues to guide the Church towards the full visible unity of Christians. He highlighted that the Nicene faith, expressed in the confession of the "318 Fathers", represents the common foundation of the Christian faith, shared by Catholics and Orthodox. Quoting the International Theological Commission, the Pope said that what unites Christians is much stronger than what divides them: faith in the Trinitarian God, in Christ true man and true God, in salvation in Jesus Christ, in baptism, in the resurrection of the dead and in eternal life. This reference to the Nicene faith invites us to overcome theological divisions and to focus on what unites us, promoting a theological dialogue that fosters a better understanding of the mystery that unites us.
The second theme addressed in the Symposium was synodality. The Pope recalled that the Council of Nicea inaugurated a synodal path for the Church, establishing a model for managing theological and canonical questions at a universal level. He stressed the importance of synodality as an ecclesial practice that involves all the Churches in a common discernment. The Final Document of the Synod on synodality highlighted that ecumenical dialogue is fundamental to developing the understanding of synodality and the unity of the Church. The Pope expressed the hope that the preparation and joint commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea will be an opportunity to deepen and confess together the Christological faith and to put into practice forms of synodality among Christians of all traditions.
The third theme addressed in the Symposium was the date of Easter. Pope Leo XIV recognized that one of the objectives of the Council of Nicaea was to establish a common date for Easter in order to express the unity of the Church throughout the oikoumene. However, he noted that differences in their respective calendars no longer allow Christians to celebrate together the most important feast of the liturgical year, causing pastoral problems within communities, dividing families and weakening the credibility of the Gospel testimony. The Pope reaffirmed the Catholic Church's willingness to seek an ecumenical solution that would favor a common celebration of the Lord's resurrection, giving greater missionary force to the preaching of the Gospel.
In light of the reflections offered in the papal address, the need to concretely address the question of the date of Easter emerges. As an analyst of ecclesial dynamics, I propose to consider the adoption of the Julian calendar, used by the Eastern Catholic Churches, as a common basis for determining the date of Easter throughout the Catholic Church. This proposal is based on several reasons.
First, the adoption of the Julian calendar would respect the tradition of the Eastern Churches, which celebrate Easter according to this calendar. Recognizing and valuing the liturgical traditions of the Eastern Churches would be a sign of respect and unity in diversity. Furthermore, the adoption of a common calendar would eliminate current divisions, allowing all the Churches to celebrate Easter on the same day, as desired by the Council of Nicea.
Second, the adoption of the Julian calendar would be a concrete step towards the visible unity of Christians. As emphasized in the papal address, unity will not be primarily the fruit of our own efforts, nor will it be achieved through pre-established models or schemes, but will be a gift received "as Christ wills and by the means that He wills", through the action of the Holy Spirit. The adoption of a common calendar would be an act of ecumenical synodality, involving all the Churches in a common discernment and a shared decision.
Finally, the adoption of the Julian calendar would be a sign of coherence with the tradition of the Council of Nicaea, which established a common date for Easter in order to express the unity of the Church. Respecting this historic decision would be an act of fidelity to tradition and a step forward on the path towards unity.
In light of the above, I appeal to the Holy Father Leo XIV to consider adopting the Julian calendar as a common basis for determining the date of Easter throughout the Catholic Church. This gesture would be a concrete sign of the Church's commitment to the visible unity of Christians and an important step in the ecumenical journey undertaken by the Council of Nicea. I hope that the Holy Father, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will be able to make this choice, which respects the traditions of the Eastern Churches and promotes the unity of the universal Church.
Marco Baratto
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