The World Methodist Council wishes you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! May the light of the star lead you to the Christ-child this Christmas. Bishop Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett, president of the World Methodist Council, and the Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leao Neto, general secretary of the World Methodist Council, bring Christmas greetings from Wesley’s Chapel in London.
The Methodist Ecumenical Office is the Rome representation office of the World Methodist Council.
ROME (MEOR) – The president of the World Methodist Council Bishop Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett and WMC general secretary Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leao Neto met Pope Francis in private audience on Monday, 16 December 2024. They were accompanied by the Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome. Cardinal Kurt Koch and Fr. Martin Browne OSB from the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Rev. Lee Padgett were also in attendance.
In welcoming Bishop Wallace-Padgett and Dr. Neto, Pope Francis said, “for a long time, Methodists and Catholics were estranged and wary of each other. Today, however, we can thank God, that for almost 60 years, we have been progressing together in reciprocal knowledge, understanding, and love.”
Pope Francis continued, saying, “opening ourselves to one another has brought us closer and made us realize that reconciliation is a task of the heart. When the Heart of the Lord Jesus touches our hearts, he transforms us. This is how our communities will be able to unite their differing minds and wills in order to let themselves be guided by the Spirit as brothers and sisters.”
RELATED: Read Pope Francis’ remarks to the delegation from the World Methodist Council
Bishop Wallace-Padgett responded to Pope Francis by thanking him for the warm welcome. She remarked that Catholics and Methodists share a common faith in Jesus Christ and are called to work together. She reminded Pope Francis of the commitment of the World Methodist Council to migrants and refugees and accompanying its member churches as they minister to and with migrants. She also reaffirmed the WMC’s commitment to the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome as a central conduit of the relationship between the WMC and the Catholic Church. She thanked Pope Francis for welcoming MEOR’s director Rev. Matthew A. Laferty.
The delegation presented several gifts to Pope Francis. The gifts included:
Following the presentation of gifts, the group prayed the Lord’s Prayer together.
Pope Francis last met with the WMC president and general secretary, along with the WMC steering committee and Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, in October 2017 for the 50th anniversary of the international Methodist-Catholic dialogue. In 2017 the Rev. Dr. Jong Chun Park and Bishop Ivan Abrahams were president and general secretary respectively.
Dr. Park was a fraternal delegate to the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church in 2023 and 2024 and met Pope Francis in private audience on several occasions.
Bishop Wallace-Padgett and Dr. Neto were elected to their offices in August 2024 at the World Methodist Council meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden. They are visiting Rome from 16 -19 December 2024 on their first inaugural visit to Rome and the Vatican. In addition to their meeting with Pope Francis, they have meetings planned with various Vatican offices, leaders of the Methodist and Waldensian churches, members of the diplomatic corp, and Catholic organizations based in Rome.
Photos by Vatican Media. All rights reserved.
At its meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden, August 18th, 2024, the World Methodist Council expressed its absolute rejection of Antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of Racism and Xenophobia.
It urges all people of Methodist and Wesleyan heritage to resist any expression of such prejudice and bias, whether in thought, word or deed.
The Council laments the atrocity perpetrated on people in Israel on October 7th, 2023; it urges the release of all hostages and prays for healing of the deep trauma occasioned by the attacks. It calls on Israel to stop the killing and destruction in Gaza. It continues to commit itself to work for a just and lasting peace in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, amplifying the plea of Palestinian people in their struggle for justice.
While this includes a critique on the actions of the State of Israel and a commitment to non- violent advocacy and action alongside victimized people, the Council denounces any expression or attitude of antisemitism and, in particular, any violent action towards people of Jewish faith and heritage.
ROME (MEOR) – MEOR’s oversight committee met in Rome on 26-27 November 2024 for its biennial meeting. The committee – called The Forum – meets twice a year and gives “attention to the following functions including receiving regular reports from the Director, approving an annual work plan, [and] authorising new initiatives after consultation.”
The meeting focused on long-term planning and strengthening institutional partnerships. The Forum reaffirmed MEOR’s fourfold mission – 1) ecumenical dialogue, 2) joint action for peace and justice, 3) prayer and reflection, and 4) hospitality – as foundational for the next planning cycle (2024-2029). The Forum heard reports from the various stakeholders about their financial contributions for the coming years. Additionally, the stakeholders discussed the use of the MEOR premises in Via del Banco di Santo Spirito and maximizing its utilization.
The Forum received a report from the Director on his activities and plans for the coming months. A finance report was also presented.
The Forum elected Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leao Neto, general secretary of the World Methodist Council, and Rev. Luca Anziani, president of the Evangelical Methodist Churches in Italy, as co-chairs for 2025.
The Revd Michaela Youngson, who served as co-chair from 2021-2024, was thanked for her service. Dr. Neto presented Rev. Youngson a gift – an icon of Mary and Elizabeth embracing – on behalf of the World Methodist Council for her leadership and commitment to MEOR.
The Forum attended the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on 27 November where they briefly met Pope Francis afterward. They also visited the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the Vatican’s ecumenical department, on the same day, where they were welcomed by Abp. Flavio Pace, Dicastery secretary, and met with Fr Martin Browne OSB, official for relations with Methodists.
RELATED: Read the report of the meeting with the DPCU.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Mujinga, general secretary of the Africa Methodist Council, and Rev. Tara Curlewis, ecumenical liaison officer of the Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office, joined the Forum for dinner on 26 November or 27 November respectively.
Members participating in the meeting were Rev. Dr. Leo Neto, Rev. Micky Youngson, Rev. Steven Cooper, Rev. Luca Anziani, Rev. Dr. Heather Morris, Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst (online), and Rev. Matthew A. Laferty. Dr. Paul Dimmock provided staff support for the meeting.
The Forum will meet again in March 2025 in an online format.
The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome is the representation office and ecumenical formation center of the World Methodist Council in Rome, working for for ecumenical dialogue, joint action for peace and justice, prayer and reflection, and hospitality.
Photo: The MEOR Forum and Dr. Martin Mujinga (third right) with Fr. Martin Browne OSB (center) in the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity on 27 November 2024. Photo by B. Sarkis/DPCU.
ROME (MEOR) – The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome welcomed the Rev. Dr. Martin Mujinga from 22-27 November 2024.
Dr. Mujinga is the general secretary of the Africa Methodist Council since 2024. The Africa Methodist Council was established in 2015 as the pan-African association of Methodist, Wesleyan, and related Uniting and United Churches. AMC is comprised of 44 African churches and works for Methodist unity in witness, facilitating mission in the African continent, and fostering ecumenical and inter-religious activities, all with the aim to enhance Methodism within Africa and promote the unity of Methodist families in Africa. Dr. Mujinga is a minister in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and was his church’s general secretary (2021-2023) prior to his election in leadership in the Africa Methodist Council.
RELATED: Read more about the Africa Methodist Council and its ministries.
Dr. Mujinga spoke on migration and identity on 23 November during an ecumenical panel at the international symposium “World Christianity in an Era of Accelerated Mobility,” co-hosted by the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Tavola Valdese, and the Waldensian School of Theology in Rome.
He attended Sunday worship at Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church near the Vatican where he gave the final blessing with Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leao Neto, general secretary of the World Methodist Council. Rev. Sarah Mae Gabuyo, pastor of Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church, presented Dr. Mujinga a small gift on behalf of the congregation.
MEOR organized several visits for Dr. Mujinga during his stay in Rome with Director Matthew A. Laferty accompanying:
Dr. Mujinga joined the MEOR Forum to attend the General Audience with Pope Francis on 27 November where Dr. Mujinga briefly met Pope Francis following the event. He also visited the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity with the Forum.
RELATED: MEOR Oversight Committee Concludes Biennial Meeting, 26-27 November 2024
Dr. Mujinga’s trip was supported by the World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council, and Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome.
Banner photo: Rev. Matthew Laferty, Rev. Dr. Leo Neto, and Rev. Dr. Martin Mujinga on 23 November 2024 in Rome.
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 