Pope Francis will make a private visit to a friend in Caserta, about 110 miles southeast of Rome. But not just any friend. His name is Giovanni Traettino and he's an evangelical pastor. The two met during an ecumenical gathering in Buenos Aires, back in 2006.
The Vatican spokesperson explained that it will be a strictly private visit. The pastor will likely welcome the Pope at his Evangelical Church of Reconciliation.
The Vatican explained that the idea surfaced last month, during the audience between Pope Francis and a group of evangelical pastors, following the yearly Charismatic Renewal gathering.
In the past, the Pope sent a video-message to an evangelical Christian conference. He asked the participants to pray for unity between all Christians.
On June 24, he also met with several American televangelists, who, among other things, thanked him for urging Catholics to seek a personal encounter with Jesus.
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