Like many European nations, Italy has seen a significant decline in participation within all the traditional mainline churches. “The only exception we notice is in the Pentecostal and charismatic communities, who have seen their congregations getting larger and younger,” Gerdes said. “But our joint efforts are not about trying to attract more people into our churches. Rather, it is because we know this is the right path to follow and because we see a lack of authentic Christian values in public life today.”
Just like in his home country, Germany, Gerdes noted that there are “groups talking about the importance of Christianity, but we need to be careful because they may be more interested in getting political votes than in authentic religious values.” The pact, signed at the symposium, underlines the importance of religious freedom and respect for the freedom of conscience of every individual.
While it does not contain concrete proposals for the next steps on this ecumenical journey, the pact does commit each church to “promoting initiatives that favor [greater] knowledge and reciprocal esteem between believers of the different Christian confessions.” Gerdes said he was “delighted to see such a strong impulse from Catholic leaders, who remain the majority church in Italy.” He concluded: “Not only the church leaders, but all participants in this symposium should now take steps forward to continue with this momentum.”
