On Saturday, June 7, a select group of five members from the SMU community were granted a rare opportunity—a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, in Rome.
The sun rose over the Eternal City, casting a warm golden light across the urban landscape, and the tranquil emerald waters of the Tiber shimmered gently in the morning light.
Promptly at 9:30 a.m., we arrived at Porto del Perugino, a lesser-known entrance along the southern walls of the Vatican, located a mere block from Via Aurelia and within a non-touristy area near St. Peter’s Basilica.
This occasion resonated deeply with me, as a quarter-century earlier, I had the chance to attend a public audience with Pope John Paul II in the grandeur of Paul VI Audience Hall, accommodating up to 6,000 visitors.
Now, after three papacies, we stood ready for an intimate encounter with Leo XIV, a historic meeting that few could have previously envisioned.
The private audience was organized for the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA), which had collaborated with the Angelicum’s Institute for Ecumenical Studies to host a theological conference titled “Nicaea and the Church of the Third Millennium: Towards Catholic-Orthodox Unity.”
This conference marked the 1700th anniversary of the esteemed Council of Nicaea, a pivotal gathering in the history of Christianity that shaped key doctrines and practices.
The Council, convened by Emperor Constantine and presided over by Bishop Hosius of Córdoba, took place in 325 AD in present-day İznik, Turkey, and resulted in contributions such as the Nicene Creed and a standardized date for Easter—though the Western and Eastern Churches later diverged on the celebration of the holiday due to calendar differences.
As we arrived in 2025 for our private audience, we were informed that the gathering was comparatively smaller than the historic Council of Nicaea.
The audience was limited to around 200 attendees, drawing from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant traditions, and reflecting a diverse representation of global Christianity.
After navigating near the Vatican gardens, passing the Sistine Chapel, we were guided through Renaissance passageways until we reached the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.
Ascending four flights of an imperial staircase, we eagerly awaited the papal butlers to open the Sala Clementina, adorned from floor to ceiling with ornate frescoes by the distinguished brothers Giovanni and Cherubino Alberti.
We settled into our seats with anticipation, understanding the honor of the moment we were about to experience. Coincidentally, just a few rooms away, Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, was also in his first audience with the pope.
At 11:09 a.m., Pope Leo XIV entered the hall to a warm round of applause before personally greeting the members of the audience.
Among the attendees were IOTA founder and president Paul L. Gavrilyuk, who was welcomed by the pope and presented him with a copy of The Oxford Handbook of Deification.
Notable SMU alumni present included Justus Hunter, associate professor at United Theological Seminary; David F. Watson, president of Asbury Theological Seminary; and Sergei Nikolaev, president of Moscow Theological Seminary of the United Methodist Church.
Each had advanced their studies at Perkins School of Theology and the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU under the guidance of the late William J. Abraham, who contributed significantly to theological dialogues with the Orthodox Church.
When the pope addressed our group, he lightheartedly remarked that he was just one month into his tenure and requested our understanding.
His warm welcome, combined with his calm demeanor, instilled a sense of tranquility among us all.
In a significant moment within his address, he referenced the themes discussed at the Nicaea Conference and emphasized that the Catholic Church remains open to an “ecumenical solution favoring a common celebration” of Easter, underscoring a message of unity.
As SMU representatives, my colleagues and I felt the magnitude of this private audience, realizing that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience we would cherish.
Pope Leo XIV concluded the audience by offering a prayer, blessing the group, and leaving us with a message of unity.
In that special chamber within the Apostolic Palace, we recognized the honor of being part of history, witnessing a profound moment in the evolution of the universal church with the first American pope.
image source from：dallasnews
