On November the 30th in the framework of the Pope's visit to Turkey Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople participated in a liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, followed by signing of the Joint Declaration of the Heads of the two Churches.

The document refers, inter alia, to the situation in Ukraine: "We also remember all the people who experience the sufferings of war. In particular, we pray for peace in Ukraine, a country of ancient Christian tradition, while we call upon all parties involved to pursue the path of dialogue and of respect for international law in order to bring an end to the conflict and allow all Ukrainians to live in harmony".