The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, the Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office Rome, and the Anglican Centre in Rome with the Taize Community, the Office of Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Vicarate of Rome, and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity of the Holy See cordially invite you to an ecumenical prayer service for the sick and suffering and for the health of Pope Francis on Friday, 21 March 2025 at 15:00 at the Church of San Lorenzo in Piscibus (Centro Internazionale Giovanile San Lorenzo). The church is located at Via Padre Pfeiffer Pancrazio 24, 00193 Roma.
The ecumenical prayer service will be led by Br. Matthew, Prior of the Taize Community, along with other Taize brothers using the Taize Community’s liturgy and music.
There is no parking available on-site, though there are several parking garages in the vicinity.
Please note that there will be a photographer/ videographer present for communication purposes. Kindly let us know if you prefer not to appear in any communications about the event.
On 26 February 2025, the Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office Rome and the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome held a prayer service for the sick and suffering with special prayers for Pope Francis. Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital on 14 February with double pneumonia. The service was held in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Rome, with the music and order of service in the style of the Taize Community.
Colleagues from Churches Together in Rome and the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity were in attendance.
“As pilgrim companions, we are called to pray for one another. Pope Francis has always asked us to pray for him. We pray especially for our brother Francis in this difficult time, that the Lord may bring him comfort, healing and peace,” said Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome.
Several prayers were offered during the prayer service that were composed by member churches of the World Methodist Council:
Lord Jesus Christ, we come to you sharing the suffering that you endured. Grant us patience during this time, that as we and Francis live with pain, disappointment, and frustration, we may realize that suffering is a part of life, a part of life that you know intimately. Touch Francis in his time of trial, hold him tenderly in your loving arms, and let him know your care. Renew us in our spirits, even when our bodies are not being renewed, that we might be ever prepared to dwell in your eternal home, through our faith in you, Lord Jesus, who died and are alive for evermore. Amen.
Adapted from the Book of Worship of The United Methodist Church
Loving and merciful God,
We bring before You His Holiness Pope Francis, asking for Your healing touch upon him. Grant him strength in body, peace in spirit, and wisdom for those caring for him. We pray for the Catholic Church, that they may be encouraged and upheld in faith as they journey through this time. May Your presence be felt among all who lift their voices in prayer, and may Your love continue to unite us in Christ.
E Otua fanongoa homau lotu (Lord hear our prayer)
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Uniting Church in Australia
We pray for Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church and all who hold him dear during this difficult time. May Pope Francis be surrounded by skilled and compassionate caregivers, may his faith continue to be a source of comfort and resilience; and may God’s presence continue to bring hope and encouragement to us all. In moments like these, we are reminded of our shared faith and the power of prayer to unite us in love and support. May God’s healing grace be with Pope Francis. Amen.
The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, has been busy since the beginning of the 2025, particularly with events around the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18-25 January 2025).
Rev. Laferty met with students from Centro Melantone on 17 January in the MEOR offices to discuss MEOR’s work, Methodist understandings of ecumenism, and Christian unity in Rome. Centro Melantone brings students from Protestant churches in Europe to study in Rome for one year with courses at the Waldensian Faculty of Theology and Pontifical universities in Rome. The group was accompanied by the Centro director Rev. Patrick Spitzenberger.
MEOR along with the Legation of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, Anglican Centre in Rome, and Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office in Rome organized a webinar – “Experiences of the Fraternal Delegates at the Synod on Synodality” – to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Five fraternal delegates to the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, called the Synod on Synodality, shared their experiences during a webinar on 20 January 2025.
Rev. Laferty also met with Methodist students from the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Institute Bossey on 23 January during their study trip to Rome during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There were three Methodist students on the trip from Korea, Nigeria, and the United States. Rev. Laferty shared about MEOR’s ministry and Methodist-Catholic relations.
Also during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Rev. Laferty attended a number of prayer services and events, including Vespers at the Pontifical Beda College, Vespers at Pontifical Irish College, the prayers for unity with the Catholic Diocese of Rome, the Unity Service of the Churches Together in Rome, and a lecture at Centro Pro Unione.
MEOR welcomed Mr. Daniel Mohr, a Global Mission Fellow with The United Methodist Church, for the final days of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Mr. Mohr is on placement with the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe, based in Vienna, Austria. During his visit to Rome, Mr. Mohr met Fr. Martin Browne OSB, official for Methodist relations at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who shared about Christian unity from the Vatican’s perspective, Catholic-Methodist relations, and emerging themes in ecumenism.
Fr. Martin Browne OSB (left), official for relations with the World Methodist Council, and Mr. Daniel Mohr (right)
Rev. Laferty attended the farewell service for H.G. Abp Ian Ernest, the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on 24 January 2025. A reception followed. Rev. Laferty presented a portrait of Charles Wesley to Abp. Ian on behalf of the MEOR Forum as a token of gratitude for Abp. Ian’s support and collaboration with MEOR.
Pope Francis invited local clergy and representatives of churches and Christian world communions to attend Papal Vespers on 25 January, the feast of the conversion of the Apostle Paul, at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. Rev. Laferty was in attendance and was greeted by Pope Francis before the Vespers.
Rev. Laferty is the secretary and a member of the Committee on Faith and Order of The United Methodist Church. He is seconded to a project to revise the church law of The United Methodist Church with the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters. The meeting took place in Atlanta, USA, 27-29 January 2025.
During the final week of January, MEOR provided programmatic, organizational, and logistical support for meeting of the European partners of the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA). The European partners are chaired by Rev. Dr. Andrew Ashdown, Africa partnership coordinator fot the Methodist Church in Britain. On 30 Rev. Matthew A. Laferty met the PROCMURA chairperson Rev. Robert Goyek from the Lutheran Church in Cameroon and PROCMURA general adviser Bishop Nathan Samwini from the Methodist Church Ghana.
MEOR director Rev. Matthew A. Laferty (left) with PROCMURA chairperson Rev. Robert Goyek (Lutheran Church in Cameroon), Dorina Waldmeyer (Mission 21), PROCMURA general adviser Bishop Nathan Samwini (Methodist Church Ghana), PROCMURA European partners chair Rev. Dr. Andrew Ashdown (Methodist Church in Britain) on 30 January 2025. Photo by M. Laferty/MEOR.
During the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Security Personnel on 8-9 February 2025, Director Laferty met a number of military chaplains including two Methodist chaplains – the Reverend Canon Michael Parker KHC CF, Chaplain General to His Britainnic Majesty’s Land Forces, and Capt. James Dance CHC, regional chaplain based in Naples Italy, for the United States Navy. Rev. Canon Parker is a minister in the Methodist Church in Great Britain and Capt. Dance is a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Director Matthew A. Laferty (right) with the Reverend Canon Michael Parker KHC CF (left), Chaplain General to His Britainnic Majesty’s Land Forces, and H.E. Mr. Christopher Trott (center), H.M. ambassador of the Holy See, on 7 February 2025.
Director Matthew A. Laferty (right) with Capt. James Dance (left) of the U.S. Navy and Ms. Laura Hochla (center), charges d’affaires a.i. at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, on 8 February 2025 at Villa Richardson in Rome.
Bishop Eduard Khegay, bishop of Moscow and Eurasia in The United Methodist Church, visited Rome from 9-10 February 2025. Read more about his trip.
Bishop Eduard Khegay (center) with Rome-based clergy in front row and visiting missionaries Revs. Kim and Choi in second row. Photo by M. Laferty/MEOR.
Rev. Laferty attended the Mass to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Sant’Egidio Community on 13 February 2025. The Mass was held at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls.
H.Em. Cardinal Baldassare Reina (center), Cardinal Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Rome, blessing the congregation with the Gospel during the Mass for the 57th anniversary of the Sant’Egidio Community as Director Matthew A. Laferty (right) looks on. Photo by the Sant’Egidio Community.
Rome (MEOR) – Bishop Dr. Eduard Khegay, the bishop of Moscow and Eurasia in The United Methodist Church, visited the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome on 9-10 February 2025. During his two day visit, Bishop Khegay made a number of visits to Methodist leaders and ecumenical partners in Rome in a program organized by the Methodist Ecumenical Office.
Bishop Khegay was elected bishop in The United Methodist Church in 2013 and oversees approximately 80 congregations in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, briefed Bishop Khegay about the Methodist Ecumenical Office, its current ministries, and goals for the future.
Bishop Khegay attended Sunday worship at Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church in central Rome on 09 February 2025 where he gave the final blessing alongside Rev. Sarah Mae Gabuyo. He made a pilgrimage to the the Abbey of Three Fountains, the site commemorating the execution of the Apostle Paul, and the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, the Apostle Paul’s burial location.
Bishop Eduard Khegay, the United Methodist bishop of Eurasia, offers the final blessing on Sunday, 9 February 2025 at Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church in central Rome with Rev. Sarah Mae Gabuyo (left). Photo by M. Laferty/MEOR.Bishop Eduard Khegay, the United Methodist bishop of Eurasia, at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome on 9 February 2025. Photo by M. Laferty/MEOR.
Bishop Khegay visited the offices of the Methodist Churches in Italy on Monday, 10 February 2025, where he met Rev. Luca Anziani.
Bishop Eduard Khegay (left) and Rev. Luca Anziani (right) on Monday, 10 February 2025. Photo by M. Laferty/MEOR.
Bishop Khegay also met Fr. Martin Browne OSB, official for Methodist relations at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and discussed the work of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, the Vatican’s approach to Christian unity, and the importance of reconciliation.
Bishop Eduard Khegay (center) with Vatican official Fr. Martin Browne OSB (right) and MEOR director Rev. Matthew A. Laferty (left) following their meeting on Monday, 10 February 2025 at the Dicastery’s offices. Photo by B. Sarkis/DPCU.
Concluding his visit, Bishop Khegay had dinner with Roman Methodist clergy, attended by Rev. Mirella Manocchio, pastor of Via XX Settembre Methodist Church, Rev. Sarah Mae Gabuyo and her spouse Rev. Dr. Janos Csomós, Rev. Eliad Santos, a pastor works with marginalized people at Via XX Settembre Methodist Church, and Rev. Laferty. Rev. Eunha Kim and Rev. Jae Hyong Choi, missionaries in residence with United Methodist Global Ministries based in Atlanta, GA, USA, were also in attendance. The dinner was hosted by Rev. Santos. Bishop Khegay heard about the various ministries of the Roman clergy and learned first-hand about the opportunities and challenges in the Italian capital.
Bishop Eduard Khegay (center) with Rome-based clergy in front row and visiting missionaries Revs. Kim and Choi in second row. Photo by M. Laferty/MEOR.
Rev. Laferty accompanied Bishop Khegay throughout his entire program.
The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome is the presence of the World Methodist Council in Rome for ecumenical dialogue, joint action for peace and justice, prayer and reflection, and hospitality.
Five fraternal delegates to the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, called the Synod on Synodality, share their experiences during a webinar on 20 January 2025.
The speakers were: H.Em. Metropolitan Job (Getcha) of Pisidia from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Rev. Prof. Jong Chun Park from the World Methodist Council, Dr. Elizabeth Newman from the Baptist World Alliance, Rev. Dr. Opoku Onyinah from the Pentecostal World Fellowship, and Rev. Dr. Hanns Lessing from the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Prof. Catherine Clifford from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Synod delegate from North America, moderated the webinar.
The webinar was sponsored by the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, Legation of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, Anglican Centre in Rome, and Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office in Rome to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 