The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, participated in the annual Synod of the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches in Italy, meeting in Torre Pellice, Piedmont, Italy from 20-25 August 2023. Director Laferty is a member of the Synod since 2020.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, sent a telegram to the Synod on behalf of Pope Francis. Vatican News noted
The telegram began by expressing the Pope’s delight to greet the synod members, and conveying his hope that the “meeting may be, for each one, an occasion of a profound experience of Christ who welcomes, guides and leads to the fullness of communion with Him and with the brethren.”
Pope Francis raised a prayer of praise to God the Father “for the gifts bestowed through ecumenical dialogue,” as well as for the “harmonious collaboration” between Christian confessions.
He also expressed his desire “to remain spiritually present at this important event, so that we may grow in mutual knowledge in order to bear witness together to the Gospel of Jesus.”
The Holy Father concluded by offering his best wishes for the work of this synodal assembly, and invoking the Lord’s blessing.
Deborah Castellano Lubov/Vatican News
The Synod received a number of reports related to church projects on a new liturgy, humanitarian cooridors, ecumenical engagement, and evangalization.
The Synod is the highest decision-making body of the church.
The Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches is an Italian united church founded in 1975, which brings together the Waldensian Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Methodist Church in Italy. The church has approximately 50,000 members – 45,000 are Waldensians and 5,000 are Methodist.
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 