This week in Christian history: Oswald Chambers born, pope visits Pentecostal church

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, July 23, 2023

Pope Francis becomes first pontiff to visit Pentecostal church – July 28, 2014

Pope Francis speaks during a ceremony welcoming him to the White House in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2015. | Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

This week marks the anniversary of when Pope Francis became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to officially visit a Pentecostal congregation, offering an apology for the Catholic Church's past mistreatment of the movement.

The pontiff visited the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation in Caserta, Italy, and its pastor, Giovanni Traettino, who was reportedly a longtime friend of Francis.

“Among those who persecuted and denounced Pentecostals, almost as if they were crazy people trying to ruin the race, there were also Catholics,” Francis told the estimated 350 attendees, The Associated Press reported at the time.

“I am the pastor of Catholics, and I ask your forgiveness for those Catholic brothers and sisters who didn’t know and were tempted by the devil.”