Pope Francis says he hopes to travel to Turkey next year to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council.

Should Pope Francis visit Turkey next year as he wishes to commemorate a landmark anniversary for the Council of Nicaea, it will mark a key opportunity for him to make advancements on several key ecumenical and geopolitical priorities.

Pope Francis on Thursday said he planned to visit Turkey's Iznik next year for the anniversary of the first council of the Christian Church, Italian newswire ANSA reported. "During the Holy Year, we will also have the opportunity to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the first great Ecumenical Council,

The early centuries of Christianity were marked by debate about how Jesus could be both God and man, and the Church decided on the issue at the First Council of Nicaea in 325.