Pope Francis has urged Methodist and Waldensian Churches to continue to walk together with the Catholic Church on the path towards full Christian unity pointing out that in a world lacerated by violence and fear it is all the more important to live and to convey the Christian message of welcome and fraternity.
The Pope’s words of friendship and closeness came in a message on Monday to the annual Synod of the Italian Methodist and Waldensian Churches taking place in Torre Pellice – near Turin – from 20 to 25 August.
Recalling recent encounters between the Churches and a shared celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, the Pope said “May Jesus’ gaze brighten our relationship so that it is never just formal or proper, but fraternal and lively.”
“The Good Shepherd – he continued – wants us to walk together and his gaze embraces all of his disciples whom He wants to see fully united.”
Francis also said that to walk towards full unity… is all the more important today, “in a world scarred by violence and fear, by wounds and indifference…
The Waldensians joined the Methodists in Italy in 1975 and now blesses same-gender couples. At the Synod some 180 representatives of the Methodist and Waldensian Churches in Italy will decide on Church programmes for the coming year, and elect their executive and administrative bodies.
“All the world wondered…” Revelation 13:3
Comments
Harry
Saturday August 26th, 2017 at 06:50 PMThe Papacy is the one and only biblical Antichrist with all her popes and is where Satan seat of power on the Earth dwells and been for over 1500 years Now.
The Waldensians of today should be a shame of thereselves to go back to the first beast of Revelation 13 OKJB and the little horn of Daniel 7:8 OKJB and the great whore of Revelation 17:4-6 OKJB and the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2 OKJB.
I myself would chose to be burn to death on the wooden stake before I go back to Rome !!!
Tom From I Hate The Jesuit Pigs on F.B.
Leona Morris
Sunday September 10th, 2017 at 12:59 PMKeep up the good works Pastor Hal. I believe that you are one of the few great men that Ellen White said would finish the work. Pray for me that I will do my part in this small part of the vineyard. That is, whatever I could do.