Turin Church Houses Lutheran Worship Since 2020

In the historic centre of Turin, Italy, stands the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi. In the sixteenth century, the church temporarily safeguarded the Shroud of Turin, after its transfer from Chambéry.
Is is an active church in the Archdiocese of Turin, with regular Masses and the Blessed Sacrament reserved.
Since spring 2020, however, the church has also served as the regular place of worship for the Evangelical Lutheran Community of Turin.
The Lutheran congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy (CELI) and has administrative offices elsewhere in the city, but no church of its own.
This arrangement is permanent.
During the installation of Pastor Tobias Brendel in September 2022, which took place in the Catholic church, a Catholic deacon symbolically presented the new pastor with a set of keys.
The Lutheran community said that this recognised the relationship of trust that had developed since the shared use of the church began in 2020.
This appears to have been …More