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When Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican for his first apostolic journey as pope, he didn’t head to a Catholic stronghold. As Drew Mariani told listeners, he went to Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the gathering called by Emperor Constantine to settle the truth about Jesus’ nature..

The Council of Nicaea was a significant event in the solidification of Catholic teaching. It was a response to the heresy of Arianism, a movement claiming that Jesus was no more than God’s most perfect creature. In response, the Church gave us the Nicene Creed we pray at Mass, boldly confessing that Christ is truly God and consubstantial with the Father. 

Father Dominic Balk joined Drew on the air to discuss how going back to these councils broadens our view beyond “simplistic tropes,” revealing a Faith that is rich, unerring, and resilient.

That same Christ-centered focus is behind the pope’s push for unity on this trip. In a clip Drew played, Pope Leo said, “For my part, in continuity with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and my predecessors, I wish to confirm that while respecting legitimate differences, the pursuit of full communion among all those baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one of the priorities of the Catholic Church.” 

Father Dominic pointed to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that all His children be one, and even joked that in the earliest communities “they were saying Mass and they were fighting”, reminding us that division has been with us from the beginning, even as the deeper divide today is often between Christianity and modern paganism and Gnosticism. We are human, faulted creatures, so conflict naturally arises. It is in Christ and Christ alone that we find perfect unity and peace.

From Turkey, the pope traveled to Lebanon, praying at the tomb of Saint Charbel and meeting with leaders of Eastern Churches in and out of communion with Rome. For the many Maronite Catholics there, Father Dominic said, his visit is a “great balm”, a visible sign that the pope “has their back” in a region marked by war and radical Islam, and a reminder that unity with Peter strengthens those who feel like a fragile minority.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

When Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican for his first apostolic journey as pope, he didn&rsquo;t head to a Catholic stronghold. As Drew Mariani told listeners, he went to Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the gathering called by Emperor Constantine to settle the truth about Jesus&rsquo; nature..
The Council of Nicaea was a significant event in the solidification of Catholic teaching. It was a response to the heresy of Arianism, a movement claiming that Jesus was no more than God&rsquo;s most perfect creature. In response, the Church gave us the Nicene Creed we pray at Mass, boldly confessing that Christ is truly God and consubstantial with the Father.&nbsp;
Father Dominic Balk joined Drew on the air to discuss how going back to these councils broadens our view beyond &ldquo;simplistic tropes,&rdquo; revealing a Faith that is rich, unerring, and resilient.
That same Christ-centered focus is behind the pope&rsquo;s push for unity on this trip. In a clip Drew played, Pope Leo said, &ldquo;For my part, in continuity with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and my predecessors, I wish to confirm that while respecting legitimate differences, the pursuit of full communion among all those baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one of the priorities of the Catholic Church.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Father Dominic pointed to Jesus&rsquo; prayer in John 17 that all His children be one, and even joked that in the earliest communities &ldquo;they were saying Mass and they were fighting&rdquo;, reminding us that division has been with us from the beginning, even as the deeper divide today is often between Christianity and modern paganism and Gnosticism. We are human, faulted creatures, so conflict naturally arises. It is in Christ and Christ alone that we find perfect unity and peace.
From Turkey, the pope traveled to Lebanon, praying at the tomb of Saint Charbel and meeting with leaders of Eastern Churches in and out of communion with Rome. For the many Maronite Catholics there, Father Dominic said, his visit is a &ldquo;great balm&rdquo;, a visible sign that the pope &ldquo;has their back&rdquo; in a region marked by war and radical Islam, and a reminder that unity with Peter strengthens those who feel like a fragile minority.
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The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.