Archaeologists uncover rare fresco of Jesus in town Pope Leo XIV recently visited

Archaeologists successful Turkey person discovered a fresco of a Roman-looking Jesus arsenic the "Good Shepherd," which is being hailed arsenic 1 of the astir important finds from Anatolia's aboriginal Christian era.

The enactment of creation was recovered successful August successful an underground tomb adjacent the municipality of Iznik, wherever the Nicene Creed, a foundational connection of Christian belief, was adopted successful A.D. 325. The tomb itself is believed to day backmost to the 3rd century, erstwhile the country was inactive nether the Roman Empire and Christians faced persecution.

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Archaeologists cleanable and reconstruct frescoes wrong a 3rd-century tomb wherever a uncommon aboriginal Christian depiction of Jesus arsenic the "Good Shepherd" was discovered, successful Iznik, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Khalil Hamra/AP Photo)

The fresco shows a youthful, clean-shaven Jesus dressed successful a toga and carrying a goat connected his shoulders, according to The Associated Press, which was the archetypal planetary media enactment fixed entree to the tomb. The outlet noted that researchers accidental the fresco represents 1 of the uncommon instances successful Anatolia successful which Jesus is portrayed with Roman attributes.

The pb archaeologist connected the task believes the artwork could beryllium the "only illustration of its benignant successful Anatolia," the AP reported.

A fresco depicting Jesus arsenic the "Good Shepherd" adorns the partition of a 3rd-century tomb successful Hisardere, wherever archaeologists uncovered 1 of Anatolia's best-preserved aboriginal Christian artworks, successful Iznik, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Khalil Hamra/AP Phto)

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Pope Leo XIV precocious visited the municipality arsenic portion of his archetypal overseas travel since taking the helm of the Vatican. While successful Iznik, Pope Leo XIV marked the 1,700th day of the Council of Nicaea, which acceptable distant the Nicene Creed that millions of Christians inactive work today.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes Pope Leo XIV (R) with an authoritative welcoming ceremonial astatine Presidential Complex successful Ankara, Turkiye connected Nov. 27, 2025.  (Utku Ucrak/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented a tile coating of the Good Shepherd find to the pope, according to the AP.

While successful Turkey, Pope Leo XIV was joined by Eastern and Western patriarchs and priests arsenic they prayed that Christians would 1 time beryllium agreed erstwhile again. They prayed unneurotic implicit the tract wherever the assembly produced the Nicene Creed. The men recited the creed, which the pope said was "of cardinal value successful the travel that Christians are making toward afloat communion," according to the AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.