Pope Francis visited Turin’s Waldensian church Monday, and in a historic move asked forgiveness for the Catholic Church’s past persecution of the Waldensian protestants. Francis became the first pontiff to visit a Waldensian house of worship, after eight decades of strife between the two churches. The Waldensian movement was born 841 years ago, and was ten years later excommunicated and accused of heresy by Pope Lucius III. What followed were years of brutal persecution, bloodshed and life in ghettos for the small Protestant movement.
“On behalf of the Catholic Church I ask forgiveness for the un-Christian, and even inhuman, attitudes and behaviours we have had against you throughout history” the pope said.
The Waldensian pastor of Turin, Paolo Ribet, welcomed the Pope and added that the visit was greeted “with joy, like a new brother on our path." He then added that by entering into the Church, the Pope had “crossed the historic doorstep of a wall which was built more than eight centuries ago." He named the visit a “historic” and “encouraging experience”, whilst expressing his desire for future ecumenical experiences in Turin. Francis' gesture can be interpreted as part of his drive to promote Christian unity, which is even more significant given the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017.
The Waldensian community has wanted to participate in this unusual event several other evangelical communities including the Adventist church. Pastor Davide Romano, PARL Director in the Italian Union, attended the event. Here his (italian) report.