Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome

29/10/2026

Director Matthew Laferty participated in this important meeting of The European Methodist Council in London at the beginning of October

EMC Autumn Meeting 2026

29/10/2026

Last week Rev. Prof. Edgardo Colon-Emeric and Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, co-chairs of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, led a seminar on MERCIC's new document "One in Faith and Ministry to the World: Catholics and Methodists Reflection on Unity and Diversity for the Mission of the Church" at the Institute for Ecumenical Studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

World Methodist Council
Duke Divinity School
Archdiocese of Brisbane

27/10/2026

Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, and Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto, general secretary of the Methodist Council, have been in Assisi for the International Meeting of Peace, organized by the Sant’Egidio Community. This international interreligious meeting brings leaders from all the world’s major religions together for shared conversation, learning, community, and prayer. Initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1986, it celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Sant'Egidio
World Methodist Council

23/10/2026

The steering committee of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission concluded two days of meetings in Rome. On Wednesday, the steering committee met Pope Leo XIV following the General Audience and offered a brief update about their work. They also met Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican’s ecumenical department, to discuss the Commission’s newly approved document “One in Faith and Ministry to the World: Reflecting on Unity and Diversity for the Mission of the Church.”

The co-chairs - Prof. Edgardo Colon-Emeric and Archbishop Shane Mackinlay - presented the document at the Angelicum - Pontificia Università San Tommaso d'Aquino in their Tillard Chair Lecture Series.

They concluded their meetings in Rome with planning for the 13th round of dialogue.

Members of the steering committee of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission are Rev. Prof. Edgardo Colon-Emeric, Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, and Fr. Martin Browne OSB.

Vatican News
Duke Divinity School
Archdiocese of Brisbane
World Methodist Council
Council of Bishops - The United Methodist Church

21/10/2026

Join us this afternoon at 17:00 (Rome) at the Angelicum - Pontificia Università San Tommaso d'Aquino as Archbishop Shane Mackinlay (Archdiocese of Brisbane) and Rev. Prof. Edgardo Colon-Emeric (Duke Divinity School), co-chairs of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, speak about the Commission’s new document “One in Faith and Ministry to the World: Reflecting on Unity and Diversity for the Mission of the Church.”

🇮🇹 Cattolici e metodisti riflettono su unità e diversità per la missione della Chiesa
L’Œcumenicum – Istituto di Studi Ecumenici della Pontificia Università di San Tommaso d’Aquino (Angelicum) presenta la conferenza della Cattedra Tillard 2026–2027: One in Faith and Ministry to the World.
🗓OGGI Mercoledì 21 ottobre, ore 17:00, Aula Minor
👉 https://oecumenicum.angelicum.it/event/one-in-faith-and-ministry-to-the-world/

🇬🇧 Catholics and Methodists reflect on Unity and Diversity for the Mission of the Church
The Œcumenicum – Institute for Ecumenical Studies of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) presents the Tillard Chair 2026-2027 lecture:
One in Faith and Ministry to the World.
🗓TODAYWednesday 21 October 5 pm Aula Minor
👉 https://oecumenicum.angelicum.it/event/one-in-faith-and-ministry-to-the-world/

20/10/2026

The steering committee of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission (MERCIC) has been in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 the past two days promoting their work and speaking about the Commission’s new document “One in Faith and Ministry to the World: Reflecting on Unity and Diversity for the Mission of the Church.”

The committee met with Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto, general secretary of the World Methodist Council, at his office in Methodist Central Hall Westminster, and officially presented Dr. Neto a copy of the new document.

On Monday afternoon, Abp. Shane and Prof. Colon-Emeric presented the report at an event at Wesley House, Cambridge, followed by a dinner of the steering committee with members from the British national Methodist-Catholic dialogue.

The steering committee finished their UK trip on Tuesday morning with a visit to Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission in London, where they toured The Museum of Methodism & John Wesley's House and prayed at Wesley’s tomb. Before concluding their UK journey, the steering committee stopped by Aldersgate Street and the site of Charles Wesley and John Wesley’s evangelical conversion.

The committee is composed of Rev. Prof. Edgardo Colon-Emeric (Methodist co-chair), Abp. Shane Mackinlay (Catholic co-chair), Rev. Matthew A. Laferty (Methodist co-secretary), and Fr. Martin Browne OSB (Catholic co-secretary).

World Methodist Council
Vatican News
Archdiocese of Brisbane
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome
Duke Divinity School

19/10/2026

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, president and head of communion of the World Methodist Council, wrote to Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, today offering prayers and well wishes of the people called Methodist as Pope Leo continues medical treatment: “Greetings to you in the name of the Triune God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I join many other Christians around the world in gratitude for you and your expansive ministry. I write on behalf of the World Methodist Council to extend our thoughts and prayers to you as you continue to recover from your recent lung surgery. I am thankful to learn how well you are doing. I am praying for your continued healing, wisdom for the doctors and other caregivers as they provide post-surgery care for you, a quick return of your stamina and your family and friends during this time. May The Great Physician be at work in your life through the doctors and other healthcare providers as well as in His mysterious and miraculous ways. Blessings to you in all that you do.”

Photo of Bishop Debbie with Pope Leo on 25 October 2025. Photo (c) Vatican Media.

Vatican News
Council of Bishops - The United Methodist Church
West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church
Holston Conference UMC
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

12/10/2026

Director Matthew Laferty welcomed participants from the European Methodist Lay Seminar to Rome, accompanying them throughout their program today. He arranged a special, behind-the-scenes tour of St. Peter’s Basilica for the group. They are pictured here at Via Venti Settembre Methodist Church in Rome, the first stop in their Rome program.

08/10/2026

The international Methodist-Catholic dialogue commission approves a new document - "One in Faith and Ministry to the World: Reflecting on Unity and Diversity for the Mission of the Church" - as it concludes its 12th round of dialogue

The Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission – MERCIC – gives thanks for the completion of the twelfth phase of its dialogue. Members of the Commission last met in person in October 2025, …

07/10/2026

The Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, the official dialogue commission between the World Methodist Council and the Catholic Church, will present its new report “One in Faith and Ministry to the World” during its online event on Monday, 19 October at 9:00 AM New York/3:00 PM London/9:00 PM Manila. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

The event is a collaboration between the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, Wesley House, Cambridge, and the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome.

You are warmly invited to join us online on Monday, 19 October, for this event organized by the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholi…