Representatives of the European National Councils of Churches (ENCC) are currently in Rome, participating in their annual meeting that will continue until 9 May.

The participants discussed topics such as political populism, refugees and migration, minority churches and ecumenism, women’s perspective on violence, inclusion and poverty.

The participants shared their experiences, and provided feedback on issues that were identified and documented by Rev. Esther Handschin, general secretary of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria.

The participants representing ENCCs came from Portugal, Spain, Finland, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Austria, Norway, Estonia, Czech Republic, Sweden, as well from the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe and CEC.

The meeting is being facilitated by CEC and hosted by the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, with gracious support from its general secretary Rev. Luca Baratto.

The meeting also included a walking tour of Rome and visits to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Methodist Ecumenical office, as well as to the centre of the Sant’Egidio movement, where the participants were received by Mons. Marco Gnavi and other volunteers. They explained participants about the social and peace work of the community. The visit was followed by a prayer at Santa Maria in Trastevere and a fellowship meal with volunteers of the Sant’Egidio community.