During my three years in Rome, I’ve been to Caravita on a number of occasions.  One of the first things you notice is the really strong welcome from the community. There’s a nice mix of regular churchgoers along with visitors. These visitors might be tourists or people of other faiths. The combination of outsiders and visitors works well.

The focus on ecumenism is an important part of the Caravita community. This can be seen above all in the way they welcome people of other faiths, in the guest homilists who sometimes preach there and in the hymns chosen.

In 2014, I saw Caravita’s Fr Tony Currer captain the Vatican’s cricket team in a match against the Archbishop of Canterbury’s XI in England. The match was in aid of the Global Freedom Network, which aims to bring faith leaders together to end modernday slavery.  It’s just one example of how Caravita’s inter-faith efforts extend well beyond the doors of its 17th century Church.

As an Anglican, not only do I feel very much part of the community when I attend Caravita’s masses and events, but I can see the continuing efforts of the community towards engagement and dialogue with other faiths. I very much feel that the community of Caravita is a living example of ecumenism in action.