SHOTLIST:

BURSA, TÜRKİYE (NOV. 28, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. CLERGYMAN DOING PREPARATIONS (TWO SHOTS)

2. REMAINS AT HISTORICAL SITE (TWO SHOTS)

3. VARIOUS OF CLERGYMAN AND WORKERS DOING PREPARATIONS/HELICOPTER FLYING IN AIR/ DIVERS AT LAKE/ WORKERS PLACING RELIGIOUS PICTURES/ CLERGYMAN AT SITE
SCRIPT

Final preparations were completed Friday in the northwestern city of Bursa at the ruins of the underwater basilica in Iznik ahead of a ceremony to be attended by Pope
Leo XIV, head of the Vatican City State.

The submerged basilica in Lake Iznik, a historic site for the early Christian Church, when it was known as Nicaea, was identified through archaeological studies as having been built in honor of Saint Neophytos.

The basilica, located about 20 meters off the lake’s shore in the province of Bursa, is believed to stand on the site of the First Council, which convened in 325 A.D. with bishops from across the Christian world to settle key theological disputes.

Pope Leo XIV, head of state of the Vatica is continuing his engagements in Istanbul as part of his Türkiye visit.

Reporting by Cagrı Korucu / Writing by Ayse Elif Erdis