Pope
visits Waldensian temple in Turin
(Vatican
Radio) On the second day of his Apostolic Visit, Pope Francis made an historic
visit to the Waldensian temple in Turin. Although numbering only about 30,000
adherents, the Waldensian Evangelical Church is an important dialogue partner
with the Catholic Church, as it is one of the only non-Catholic Christian
communities native to Italy.
The
early morning meeting marked the first time a Pope had visited a Waldensian
house of worship.
Pope
Francis began his speech to representatives of the Italian Waldensian community
with a brief personal remembrance of his previous meetings with the friends of
the Waldensian Evangelical Church of Rio del Plata, when he was Archbishop of
Buenos Aires. The Pope spoke of his appreciation of the “spirituality and
faith” of those meetings, from which he “learned many good things.”
The
rediscovery of fraternity notwithstanding the differences: a communion on a
journey
The
Pope went on to speak about the fruits of the ecumenical movement in recent
years. The principle fruit, he said, “is the rediscovery of the fraternity that
unites all those who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized in His Name.”
This, he said, “allows us to grasp the profound ties that already unite us,
despite our differences. It concerns a communion that is still on a journey,
which, with prayer, with continual personal and communal conversion, and with
the help of the theologians, we hope, trusting in the action of the Holy
Spirit, can become full and visible communion in truth and charity.”
The
Catholic Church seeks forgiveness for past sins against Waldensians
“But
the unity that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit,” the Pope said, “does not mean
uniformity. Brothers have in common the same origin, but they are not identical
among themselves.” Unfortunately, he continued, historically this diversity was
not accepted and was a cause of violence and disputes “committed in the name of
the faith itself.” This history, the Pope said, can only grieve us, who pray
for the grace “to recognize that we are all sinners and to know to forgive one
another.” He then asked for forgiveness for “the non-Christian attitudes and
behaviour” of the Catholic Church against Waldensians.
Relations
between Waldensians and Catholics now founded on mutual respect and fraternal
charity
Pope
Francis noted with satisfaction that today relations between Catholics and
Waldensians are founded “on mutual respect and on fraternal charity,” as
witnessed, for example, by the interconfessional translation of the Bible,
pastoral arrangements for the celebration of mixed marriages, and the recent
drafting of a joint appeal against violence against women, as well as other
common initiatives.
Differences
should not be an obstacle to collaboration in evangelization and in works
These
steps, the Pope said, are an encouragement to continue this common journey. One
of the primary areas that is open to the possibility of collaboration between
Waldensians and Catholics, he said, is evangelization. Another is “that of
service to humanity which suffers, to the poor, the sick, the migrants.” The
differences that continue to exist between Catholics and Waldensians on
important anthropological and ethical questions, the Pope said, should not
prevent us from finding ways to collaborate in these and other fields: “If we
journey together,” he said, “the Lord will help us to live that communion that
precedes every contrast.”
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