The annual Synod of the Waldensian and Methodist Table opened Sunday in Turin, Italy. The Holy Father Francis sent his good wishes to the participants, through the Bishop of Pinerolo, H.E. Monsignor Pier Giorgio Debernardi, in a telegram signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin:
Here is a ZENIT translation:
To His Most Reverend Excellency Monsignor Pier Giorgio de Bernardi, Bishop of Pinerolo
His Holiness Pope Francis, in sign of his spiritual closeness, gladly addresses to the participants in the Synod of the Waldensian-Methodist Church his cordial and well-wishing greeting. He assures you of a particular remembrance in prayer and invokes from the Lord the gift to walk with serenity of heart towards full communion to witness Christ effectively to the whole of humanity, going together to encounter the men and women of today to transmit to them the heart of the Gospel. The Holy Father hopes that the differences between Catholics and Waldensians will not impede finding ways of collaboration in the ambit of evangelization, of service to the poor, to the sick, to immigrants and in the safeguarding of Creation. With such wishes, the Pope invokes the Holy Spirit to help us live that communion that precedes every opposition and obtain for us from the Lord His Mercy and His Peace.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
