Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome

A group of pilgrims from the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple in Chicago, Illinois, USA, visited with Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office, today to learn about MEOR's history and mission in the Eternal City.

The national British Methodist-Catholic Dialogue Commission met the last two days at Barnes Close near Birmingham, UK, reflecting on baptismal identity and recently published document from the international Methodist-Catholic dialogue “We Believe in One God: Sixty Years of Methodists and Catholics Walking Together.” Meeting twice a year, the commission is a joint initiative of the Methodist Church in Great Britain and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland & the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, is a member of the national commission since 2020.

The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, MEOR director and Methodist representative to the Holy See, met the Most Rev. Paul Coakley, Catholic Archbishop of Oklahoma City and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, at his office today to discuss MEOR’s ministry, Methodist-Catholic relations, and the Catholic Church in the United States.

The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, visited the headquarters of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of The United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, where he met with Rev. Margaret Johnson (first row right), assistant to Bishop Laura Merrill, and Rev. Donna Pewo (front left), OIMC director of connectional ministries. First established in 1844, OIMC encompasses 79 predominately indigenous/Native American United Methodist congregations in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. They discussed OIMC’s history, the ministries of the Conference, and Native American spirituality. Director Laferty was accompanied by Mr. Caleb Siems (second row left) who is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Director Matthew A. Laferty shared several moments of prayer and fellowship with the Most Revd and the Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, during her recent visit to Rome and to the Vatican. Photo by P. Cheney/ACR.

The Methodist Ecumenical Office and the Caravita Community are pleased to announce that H.E. Archbishop Shane Mackinlay of Brisbane will speak about ecumenism and Methodist-Catholic dialogue on Thursday, 25 June, ahead of receiving his pallium from Pope Leo XIV. Archbishop Shane is the Catholic co-chair of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, the official international dialogue commission between the World Methodist Council and the Holy See.

🗓️ Thursday, 25 June 2026
⏰ 19:00/7:00 PM
📍 Oratory of Francis Xavier of Caravita, Via del Caravita 7, 00186 Rome

Archdiocese of Brisbane
World Methodist Council
Vatican News

One year ago Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after serving as Bishop of Rome for nearly 13 years. We remember him today and give thanks to God for Pope Francis' life, ecumenical witness, and hospitality and friendship with Methodists.

Director Matthew A. Laferty met with Rev. Prof. Susanne Schenk, the incoming general secretary of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe, at their headquarters in Vienna this afternoon where they had a mutual exchange on Christian unity in Europe, theological dialogue, and the ministries of MEOR and CPCE.

The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and representative of the World Methodist Council to the Holy See, wishes you a blessed Easter! Christ is risen!

Christ is risen! Happy Easter from the Methodist Ecumenical Office – April 2026 The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and representative of the World Methodist Council to the Holy See, extends to you and your loved ones the best wishes f…

Director Matthew Laferty met with leaders from the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa at the residence this morning to discuss their work and share about MEOR’s mission.

MEOR along with The Anglican Centre in Rome, the Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office in Rome, and the Taizé Community organized a prayer vigil for peace on Friday, 20 March.

https://meorome.org/2026/03/22/prayer-vigil-for-peace-march-2026/