The following is the message sent by the Holy Father Francis to the Methodist and Waldensian Churches on the occasion of the annual opening of the Synod, taking place in Torre Pellice, Turin, from 25 to 30 August 2019:

Message of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Synod of the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches is a good opportunity to address to you my cordial greeting, an expression of my fraternal closeness and that of the entire Catholic Church.

I pray for you all, that in these days of encounter, prayer and reflection, you may have the living experience of the Holy Spirit, which inspires and gives strength to Christian witness.

I join with your prayer also to ask the Lord for the consolidation of the ecumenical spirit among Christians, as well as growing communion between our Churches.

We are called to pursue our commitment to the path of reciprocal knowledge, understanding and collaboration, to bear witness to Jesus and His Gospel of charity.

As Christ’s disciples, we can offer common answers to the sufferings that afflict many people, especially the poorest and the weakest, thus promoting justice and peace.

I address my best wishes to your Assembly and, as I invoke the Lord’s blessing, I ask you, please, to pray for me.

From the Vatican, 22 August 2019

Fraternally,

Francis