杏MAP导航

By Philippa Hitchen

Half a century ago, in an ancient Roman building overlooking one of the city鈥檚 most famous piazzas, a new centre opened up to welcome non-Catholic pilgrims to the Eternal City.

The , as it鈥檚 now known, had already played a key role during the Second Vatican Council as an informal meeting place for theologians, bishops, journalists and the ecumenical observers who were, for the first time, invited to attend that defining moment in the life of the Catholic Church.

50 years on, under the leadership of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, the centre still plays an important role, bringing together ecumenists and experts from many different traditions to discuss challenges facing the Christian Churches today.  

Professor Teresa Rossi is Associate director of the Centro, in charge of implementing some of the new programmes it has developed to reach out to younger generations of Catholics.

As she welcomed guests for a 50^th anniversary tea on Thursday, she told us the celebration means a lot to her as ecumenism is 鈥渢he great love of my life鈥�. It also makes us reflect on 鈥渢he gift of the informal encounters鈥� that took place at the centre鈥�. Those encounters brought an authenticity, which leads to the truth, she said, adding that the Church is on 鈥渁 pilgrimage together with other friends toward authenticity and the truth 鈥� and towards unity of course!鈥�

Authenticity, unity and truth

Thinking about the so-called 鈥淧ara-Council鈥� which took place among the 鈥榩eriti鈥� and experts in this room, Rossi said, 鈥渋t was a novelty, an innovation鈥�, made possible by 杏MAP导航 John XXIII鈥檚 invitation to the ecumenical observers. 鈥淭his is the message we have to take with us鈥�, she said, of receiving the past and bring it into the future, to respond to current challenges.

Budding ecumenism

Formation and reception are always linked, Rossi said, as she explained some of the current activities of the Centro 鈥渁ddressing different targets, theologians, pastoral operators, but also school children. She mentioned a project called 鈥淏udding Ecumenism鈥�, teaching teenagers about ecumenical dialogue in the building which was once a seminary for students training for the priesthood.

Sincerity, listening and encounter

While ecumenism is not commonly known or studied, Rossi noted, it also teaches children the much needed values of 鈥渆ncountering the other, learning how to be sincere, open, to listen to the others鈥� and those are 鈥渁 gift鈥� for all baptised Christians.