Protestantism in Italy

Last updated
Protestant church in Bordighera, Liguria Chiesa Evangelica Valdese di Bordighera.JPG
Protestant church in Bordighera, Liguria

Protestantism in Italy comprises a minority of the country's religious population.

Contents

The Catholic Church is by far the largest Christian denomination, but Protestantism has a significant presence. While the CESNUR (an Italian think tank devoted to religious studies, especially on new religions in Italy) asserts that there are 442,377 Protestants in Italy, due to the difficulty of keeping accurate records regarding the proclaimed religion of immigrants to the country, that number likely reflects, at best, only an approximation of the actual number of Protestants in the country. [1] [ better source needed ]

In 2022, non-Catholic Christians made up 4% of the population, [2] while estimates suggest that 0.65% of the country has a Protestant background. [3]

History

The oldest known of Italy's Protestant churches, the Waldensian Evangelical Church, is a pre-Lutheran Protestant denomination, which was founded by Peter Waldo in the 12th century and, after the Protestant Reformation, adhered to Calvinist theology and became the Italian branch of the Reformed churches. The church's heartland is a cluster of Alpine valleys, the so-called "Waldensian Valleys" (Val Pellice, Val Chisone and Valle Germanasca), in western Piedmont. Since 1975 the Waldensians form a united church with the Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy. [4] The ideas of Girolamo Savonarola also had spread around Florence around the 15th century. [5]

The Reformation in Italy began at the end of the 15th century and quickly collapsed at the beginning of the 17th century. Its development was hindered by stern repression by the Inquisition of the Catholic Church. [6] Groups of Italian Protestants had more comfortable lives in Switzerland, particularly in the Graubünden region.

Gravestone of an Italian convert to the Church of England in All Saints Church, Fulham All Saints, Fulham, the old and the new - geograph.org.uk - 2329680.jpg
Gravestone of an Italian convert to the Church of England in All Saints Church, Fulham

On 17 February 1848 Charles Albert, king of Piedmont-Sardinia, granted religious freedom and civic emancipation to the Waldensians. Freedom of worship and equality of civic and political rights were later extended to Jews and to the other Italian states that were progressively annexed to Piedmont-Sardinia during the process of unification of Italy. Newer Waldensian congregations sprang up as well as the Free Christian Church [7] (which lasted from 1852 to 1904) and the Evangelical Christian Church of the Brethren. [8] [9] Meanwhile British and American missionaries began to preach and establish Anglican, Methodist and Baptist churches.

In the early 20th century, missionaries spread the Pentecostal gospel throughout the country. Nowadays, most of those resulting Pentecostal congregations belong to the Assemblies of God in Italy, the Federation of Pentecostal Churches, and the Apostolic Church in Italy.

The Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI), formed in 1967, comprises all the historical Protestant churches of Italy (including the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches, the Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy, the Baptist Evangelical Christian Union of Italy, and some minor churches), plus two observer members with a large following (the Federation of Pentecostal Churches and the Italian Union of Seventh-day Adventist Christian Churches). [10] [11]

Protestantism, especially in its Pentecostal forms, is thus on the rise. The Assemblies of God have the majority of their communities in the South [12] and, according to Caritas Italiana, in 2012 the North of Italy was home to 850 "African Neo-Pentecostal churches". [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldensians</span> Christian movement

The Waldensians, also known as Waldenses, Vallenses, Valdesi, or Vaudois, are adherents of a church tradition that began as an ascetic movement within Western Christianity before the Reformation. Originally known as the Poor of Lyon in the late twelfth century, the movement spread to the Cottian Alps in what is today France and Italy. The founding of the Waldensians is attributed to Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant who gave away his property around 1173, preaching apostolic poverty as the way to perfection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protestantism in the Philippines</span> Overview of the role of Protestantism in the Philippines

Protestant denominations arrived in the Philippines in 1898, after the United States took control of the Philippines from Spain, first with United States Army chaplains and then within months civilian missionaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protestant Church of Switzerland</span> Swiss association

The Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS), formerly named Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches until 31 December 2019, is a federation of 25 member churches – 24 cantonal churches and the Evangelical-Methodist Church of Switzerland. The PCS is not a church in a theological understanding, because every member is independent with their own theological and formal organisation. It serves as a legal umbrella before the federal government and represents the church in international relations. Except for the Evangelical-Methodist Church, which covers all of Switzerland, the member churches are restricted to a certain territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Italy</span>

Religion in Italy has been historically characterised by the dominance of the Catholic Church since the East–West Schism, but, over the years, due to immigration, the influx of Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Protestants, Buddhists and Hindus, as well as proselytism, religious pluralism has increased. Italy also features a pre-Christian Jewish community and one of the largest shares of Jehovah's Witnesses in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Italy</span>

Christianity in Italy has been historically characterised by the dominance of the Catholic Church since the East–West Schism. However, the country is also home to significant Christian minorities, especially Orthodox Christians, Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldensian Evangelical Church</span> Italian Protestant denomination

The Waldensian Evangelical Church is a Protestant denomination active in Italy and Switzerland that was independent until it united with the Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy in the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches. Founded in the 12th century by Peter Waldo as a proto-Protestant group, since the 16th century Reformation it has adopted Calvinist theology and blended into the wider Calvinist tradition. It is one of several Protestant denominations with pre-Reformation roots, and is appraised by various denominations of Protestantism as its major successor.

The Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches is an Italian united Protestant denomination.

The Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy, known also as Italian Methodist Church, is a Protestant church in the Methodist tradition active in Italy that is in full communion with the historical Waldensian Evangelical Church in the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches. It part of the World Methodist Council.

The Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy is an ecumenical Protestant body in Italy.

The Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy is a Protestant denomination in the Lutheran tradition in Italy.

The Federation of Pentecostal Churches is a fellowship of Pentecostal churches in Italy.

The Evangelical Reformed Baptist Churches in Italy, or CERBI, is an association of Reformed Baptist churches formed on 25 April 2006 in Bologna.

The Assemblies of God in Italy, whose full name is Evangelical Christian Churches Assemblies of God in Italy, is a fellowship of evangelical and Pentecostal churches which functions as the Italian branch of the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, while being in communion with the World Assemblies of God Fellowship as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Janavel</span>

Joshua Janavel, also written Giosuè Gianavello was an Italian condottiero and defender of the Waldensian Evangelical Church. He was involved in the Piedmontese Easter of 1655, and in the Glorious Homecoming of 1689.

The Evangelical Christian Church of the Brethren is an Italian Protestant denomination.

The Apostolic Church in Italy is an Italian Protestant denomination in the Pentecostal-evangelical tradition founded in 1927, which is part of the worldwide fellowship of the Apostolic Church and the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, an ecumenical body representing Italian Protestants. Its headquarter is in Grosseto.

Gabriella Lettini is an Italian-American Waldensian pastor and academic. Rev. Dr. Lettini is professor of theological ethics at the Graduate Theological Union and is Dean of the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California. She is President of the American Waldensian Society and a member of the North Atlantic section of the European Society of Women in Theological Research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Walter Stewart</span> Scottish minister (1812–1887)

Robert Walter Stewart (1812–1887) was a Scottish minister of the Free Church of Scotland and who spent much time working in Italy and served as Moderator of the General Assembly 1874/75. He helped to promote the Waldensian Church and the Presbyterian movement in northern Italy. He was also a travel writer and early photographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ljudevit Vuličević</span> Serbian writer

Ljudevit Vuličević was an Italian-language writer and cleric who was known for his Serbian and pan-Slavic patriotism.

Oriental Orthodoxy in Italy refers to adherents, religious communities, institutions and organizations of Oriental Orthodox Christianity in Italy. There are several distinctive Oriental Orthodox ecclesiastical jurisdictions on the territory of Italy, including:

References

  1. ↑ Introvigne, Massimo; Zoccatelli, PierLuigi (2014-03-06). "Le Religioni in Italia". cesnur.com. CENSUR. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  2. ↑ US State Dept 2022 report
  3. ↑ The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  4. ↑ "Home | Chiesa Evangelica Valdese | Unione delle Chiese metodiste e valdesi". Chiesavaldese.org. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  5. ↑ "Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume VI: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1294-1517 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library". ccel.org. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Riforma.net | la Riforma in Italia". www.riforma.net. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013.
  7. ↑ https://www.studivaldesi.org/dizionario/evan_det.php?evan_id=170 [Society of Valdesi Studies, Chiesa Cristiana Libera - Chiesa Evangelica Italiana]
  8. ↑ Spini, G.l'Evangelo ed il beretto frigio. Rome: Claudiana
  9. ↑ http://www.studivaldesi.org/dizionario/evan_det.php?evan_id=172 [Society of Valdesi Studies, Chiese Cristiane dei Fratelli]
  10. ↑ "F C e I - sito web ufficiale della Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia". Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  11. ↑ "F C e I - sito web ufficiale della Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia". www.fedevangelica.it. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Dove siamo - Le chiese delle Assemblee di Dio in Italia sul territorio nazionale". assembleedidio.org. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  13. ↑ "XXIII Rapporto Immigrazione 2013" (PDF). Chiesacattolica.it. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.