The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome hosted senior leaders from the World Methodist Historical Society and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities from 3-6 September 2023. The delegation included Dr. Amos Nascimento, chairperson of the World Methodist Council Education Committee and executive secretary of the Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities, the Rev Dr Greg Bergquist, IAMSCU general officer, Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the World Methodist Historical Society, and Dr Ulrike Schuler, GBHEM LEaD Hub Europe director. WMHS and IAMSCU are programs of the World Methodist Council.
MEOR arranged the following meetings:
- Visit to the Waldensian School of Theology in Rome which trains ministers for the Methodist-Waldensian Church in Italy. We met Rev Dr Eric Noffke who is a New Testament scholar and represents the theological school to the Methodist Theological Schools in Europe network.
- Briefing by Rev Luca Baratto from the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy about their work and the presence of Protestant churches in Italy
- Tour of the Historical Archives of St. Peter’s Basilica where the group saw both historical records and artifacts from the Basilica, including a letter written by Michaelangelo and the pieces of the former ciborium above Peter’s tomb
- Briefing and exchanging by Bishop Paul Tighe and officials from the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education about Catholic education and educational networks
- Tour of the Vatican Library and meeting with Bishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani, the Librarian and Archivist of the Roman Catholic Church
- Briefing by Fr Martin Browne OSB, Vatican official for Methodist relations at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, about Methodist-Catholic international relations
Rev. Bergquist also preached at Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church in Rome on 3 September.
Additionally, the delegation greeted Pope Francis on 6 September following the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square.
Read news coverage of the visit:
- Visits from Representatives of the World Methodist Council to DPCU from the Vatican ecumenical department
- Pope delighted with John Wesley bobblehead from the United Methodist News Service
Above photo copyright © Vatican Media
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 