2014-07-29 18:29:00

Pastor Traettino speaks of Pope's visit to Pentecostal community


(Vatican Radio) The Pentecostal pastor who met with Pope Francis on Monday says he and his community were very struck by the pontiff’s simplicity and humanity. During a second visit to the southern Italian city of Caserta, the Pope was welcomed by over 200 people at the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation which is under construction on the outskirts of the city. After a moving introduction by pastor Giovanni Traettino, the Pope apologised for those Catholics who persecuted Pentecostals in the past and stressed the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing unity to the Body of Christ.

Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report: 

Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Fr Guillermo Ortiz just after the event, Traettino said he was also struck by the way the Pope puts into practice the brotherhood that Catholics and Pentecostals share.

Pastor Traettino said it’s obvious that Pope Francis is a man who has met Jesus himself, so when he meets others who share the same relationship with Our Lord and who want to live out the Gospel, he empathises with them.

Asked about the ecumenical dimension of the meeting, Traettino said there was no theological or doctrinal dimension but rather the dimensions of fraternal dialogue and unity in the Spirit which Paul speaks of in his Letter to the Ephesians.

Addressing his words to other Pentecostals, the pastor urged them to rediscover the abundant life they have received through Baptism in the Spirit. He said he believes the dimension of unity, which is a bit latent in the Pentecostal world, is also inherent in the grace we receive through Baptism in the Holy Spirit.








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