Headlines
Pope begs forgiveness for medieval persecution of Waldensians
Rome, June 22
Pope Francis on Monday asked
forgiveness for the Catholic Church's "un-Christian and even inhuman
attitudes and behaviour" towards the evangelical Waldensian church in
Italy during the Middle Ages.
"On behalf of the Catholic Church I
ask forgiveness for the un-Christian, and even inhuman, attitudes and
behaviour we have had against you," he said during the first-ever papal
visit to the Waldensian temple in Turin city, an important business and
cultural centre in northern Italy.
"In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us," he added.
The
small Waldensian church's founder and leader, a 12th-century French
merchant Peter Waldo, was excommunicated and his followers branded as
heretics during the Middle Ages.
Waldo, a clothier from Lyon,
gave up his wealth to spread a Gospel of simplicity and poverty,
strongly condemning of Papal excesses and Catholic dogmas.
There are around 45,000 Waldensians worldwide today, most of whom are in Italy, Argentina and Uruguay.