Giovanni Benini is head of the Adventist humanitarian agency ADRA in Cesena, Italy. [1] On January 20, 2023, he met with Roman Catholic Bishop Douglas Regattieri for an ecumenical bridge-building exercise. Pope Francis has been advising this particular Catholic bishop on how to advance Catholic social teachings. [2] Giovanni Benini of ADRA is shown in the picture above paying close attention to the same bishop who is receiving instructions from Pope Francis.
ADRA’s Giovanni Benini, center, is standing with Dag Pontvik, Director of ADRA Italia, far right.
In the image above, Giovanni Benini is standing with Dag Pontvik, Director of ADRA Italia. On Friday night, January 20, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., Giovanni Benini visited the Church of Saints Ann and Gioacchino, in Cesena, Italy, to build bridges with Roman Catholic Bishop Douglas Regattieri from the Catholic Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina, Romanian Orthodox Priest Silviu Sas, Romanian Eastern Rite Catholic Priest Michele David, and Ukrainian Eastern Rite Catholic Priest Vasyl Romaniuk.
The occasion served to inaugurate the 2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Stone bridges were built during this ecumenical event to represent everyone’s dedication to solidarity and unity. Each church representative brought stones to the altar and placed them on a banner that read “peace and justice,” which was surrounded by images of the Virgin Mary.
ADRA leader Giovanni Benini (arrow) speaks with Roman Catholic Bishop Douglas Regattieri as the bridge-building stone ceremony takes place. Adventist Benini is also standing with the other “Catholic” priests.
Even political leaders attended the celebration, including the deputy mayor and other municipal leaders. This news was published by the official Roman Catholic Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina’s weekly newspaper, called Corriere Cesenate. The Corriere Cesenate published an article titled “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: A Moment of Dialogue and Prayer in Cesena” and revealed the following:
“The ecumenical prayer meeting organized by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission in collaboration with the representatives of other Churches was held on Friday 20 January at 18.00 in the Church of S. Anna and Gioacchino in Piazza del Popolo. Present were: Monsignor Douglas Regattieri from the diocese of the Catholic Church of Cesena-Sarsina, Elder Giovanni Benini from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Fr. Silviu Sas from the Romanian Orthodox Church, Fr. Michele David from the Romanian Eastern Rite Catholic Church, for the Ukrainian Eastern Rite Catholic Church, Fr. Vasyl Romaniuk.” [3]
“The participants of the various communities, in relation to the size of the church of S. Anna, were numerous. Among them were also several representatives of the city institutions: the deputy mayor Christian Castorri and the councilor for social services Carmelina Labruzzo, as well as some municipal councilors. A participation that goes in the direction of an ever greater collaboration between the variegated religious and civil components of our city.” [3]
“This year’s moment of prayer, centered on the theme taken from the verse of Isaiah 1.17 ‘Learn to do good, seek justice’, proposed by the Council of Churches and elaborated by an ecumenical group from Minnesota which proposed the subsidy , saw some lay faithful as protagonists who expressed testimonies of dialogue and integration experienced in our social fabric. The celebration ended with the symbolic construction of ‘bridges’ made up of stones carried by each participant towards the altar and placed on the banner with the inscription Peace and Justice, to underline everyone’s commitment in this direction.” [3]
Pope Francis dictates social policies to Roman Catholic Bishop Douglas Regattieri of Cesena, Italy, who in turn meets with ADRA representatives for bridge-building ecumenical exercises.
The problem with these ecumenical events is that they are building bridges to Rome. All of the ecumenical movement’s bridge-building initiatives are the work of Pope Francis. The 2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being overseen by the Vatican. For the 2023 celebration, according to Roman Catholic Cardinal Kurt Koch of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the churches must “overcome the injustice of division.” Cardinal Kurt Koch also stated the following in an interview with the same Roman Catholic publication, Corriere Cesenate, for “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” which is observed from January 18 to 25:
“Division is a great wound, it is contrary to the will of the Lord, it damages the Church and damages the main proclamation of the Gospel.” [4]
“It is a beautiful decision on the part of the Holy Father. This shows two things. The first is that ecumenism is very close to the Holy Father’s heart. The second is that the fact that this year Vespers is celebrated at the beginning of the Week reminds us even more that prayer for unity is the foundation and origin of the entire ecumenical movement.” [4]
“I think that we have been able to advance in many things even if we have not yet reached the goal, which is visible unity, above all unity in the Eucharist. We are a family, we are brothers and sisters, but we cannot participate at the same table. It’s a big wound. [4]
“Finding this unity still takes a long time, it takes a long way … Francis always says: walking together, praying together, collaborating together.” [4]
This is what happens when church entities like ADRA and PARL become so secularized in their missions that they no longer represent what our faith is supposed to stand for. The true Seventh-day Adventist message becomes null and void when we embrace bridge-building. The notion that no further warnings against apostasy are needed and that finding common ground is more important than focusing on our differences is having a negative impact on our mission. What has happened over the last 60 years is that interfaith dialogue has replaced real evangelism.
Dialogue is the way we now want to reach the world. Talking to others about the things we agree on and looking for common points of interest is the new mission. After these bridge-building encounters, the different religious leaders say: “Now we can all work together, so let’s all go home and remain friends.”
This is not how we should interact with the world. We were called to proclaim the gospel and seek to baptize souls and bring them salvation. To dialogue is not to proclaim. Dialoguing has caused many to stop proclaiming the fullness of the everlasting gospel and the Three Angels’ Messages, including the mark of the beast, the seal of God, the little horn, the investigative judgment, the sanctuary message, and the need to call people out of Babylon.
We are no longer acting like Jesus, who proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). No. All that some Seventh-day Adventists want to do is talk about all the good things that the Vatican and other churches are doing, even as Rome is imposing her deadly wine upon the world. Why can’t we see this? When Adventists engage in dialogue with Rome, there is no talk about error, sin, apostasy, or repentance. Why is that? Jesus actually proclaimed the truth and was hated and rejected (John 7:7). The apostles also proclaimed the gospel. They also exposed deadly heresy. People’s hearts were “cut,” thousands were baptized, sinners repented, and salvation was obtained (Acts 2:37-41). And in this last generation, people have the right to hear God’s final warning message of salvation. They should have the opportunity to respond to the Three Angels’ Messages.
The problem today, thanks to Rome’s bridge-building exercises, is that we have forgotten that our first duty to those outside our faith is to proclaim the final warning message of Revelation 14:6–12. Jesus, Paul, Peter, and the early church preached the gospel of repentance to non-Christians. Our Adventist pioneers sent missionaries around the world to proclaim the everlasting gospel to non-Adventists, not to build bridges with them.
ADRA’s Giovanni Benini, left, with Ukrainian Catholic Priest Don Vasyl, right, during the 21st Solidarity Festival in which ADRA gave the Ukrainian Catholics a lot of money . [5]
Jesus never told us to assume that everyone is saved. Christ commanded us to evangelize the world with the fullness of the gospel so that souls could be baptized and experience salvation (Matthew 28:19–20). We are also commanded to call people out of Babylon so that they can become part of God’s commandment-keeping people in these last days. But this sacred emphasis is being reversed by certain ecumenical bridge-building agents today.
What will eventually happen if we continue down this path? We will end up believing that it doesn’t matter if we are Adventist, Catholic, or Evangelical. Since we all share the same common values, that’s really all that matters. If that’s true, then what will happen when Seventh-day Adventists are pressured to violate that Sabbath during the Mark of the Beast crisis? If doctrine doesn’t matter, and if we’re all going to be saved anyway, what will happen if we’re threatened with death for refusing to accept the papal mark of apostasy? We are going to abandon the faith because, after all, it doesn’t matter; all religions are the same. Tragically, that’s where Rome is trying to lead us.
The only mission entrusted to us as Seventh-day Adventists is to bring salvation to souls through the preaching of the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14. How will the world receive salvation? Salvation can only be offered when the faithful communicate God’s message to the world. Christ Himself instituted both the gospel and the preaching of the fullness of the gospel. Without these two components, salvation would be impossible. The truth must be boldly proclaimed without fear or hesitation.
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16.
Sources
[1] https://hopemedia.it/bibbia-festival-2022-gli-ultimi-eventi-a-cesena/
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Wow! I am so glad that we are being made aware of what our “GC recognized SDA faithful ministry” is doing with their budget and more importantly the free will offerings of those who sit in the pews. The church members that have given their offerings to this GC recognized ministry in good faith are under the false understanding that their donations are spreading the gospel. They couldn’t be more wrong!
Our eyes were opened years ago as to ADRA and what it wasn’t and isn’t doing in many locations which is SHARE THE GOSPEL ALONG WITH helping people in need of food, water, clothing, and shelter. They also partner up with Catholic charities and our name must be hidden while the Catholic charity gets to display their name…so our van rolls into town with our name hidden along side the Catholic van with name clearly seen and guess what conclusion people will come to? Oh the unmarked van is ALSO Catholic….
We gave to ADRA for YEARS a very nice amount of money but when we found out that they will not talk about God or Jesus, or hand out Christian literature, and comply with such requirements as black out our identity when the Catholics don’t have to in some locations then we stopped supporting them. Why are we helping to promote the Catholic Church?
My suggestion to all who read this: call the ministry that you are thinking about donating to and ask them how they fund raise (some ministries have “all expenses paid weekend retreats” for those who gave a high dollar amount in the previous year at a fancy hotel with very nice accommodations), what is their administrative costs in percentage of the entire budget, who do they partner with, and do they receive government money because that brings with it a lot of requirements and restrictions.
Be faithful stewards of your tithes and offerings…give to those who are faithful in spreading the three angels messages!
Come out of her my people. Why has this message vanished? With all the ecumenicism sweeping through our ranks, it has been lost.
ADRA has lost its vision a long time ago. I’m not sure why the church continues to support this group financially when it engages in questionable activities like this.
This man needs to be replaced ASAP and all others just like him.
Esempio perfetto di manipolazione di notizie. Porre enfasi e demonizzare particolari, invece di riportare la realtà degli eventi. Mi vergogno per chi ha scritto questo articolo. Estremamente delusa e amareggiata.
Could you then please explain the rocks that were used in this “bridge-building” ecumenical event?
Il momento di preghiera di quest’anno, incentrato su Isaia 1:17 “Imparate a fare il bene, cercate la giustizia”, è stato semplicemente un bellissimo momento di testimonianze, canto e dialogo tra persone civili ed educate di religioni diverse.
L’incontro si è concluso con la simbolica costruzione di “ponti” su uno striscione con la scritta PACE e GIUSTIZIA dove ciascun partecipante, deponendo una pietra, si impegnava verso il cammino del FARE IL BENE (… e la vostra illazione sulla Vergine Maria è COMPLETAMENTE fuori luogo!!!)
Detto ciò vorrei invece soffermarmi sulla Festa Solidale che ha devoluto il ricavato per aiutare BAMBINI UCRAINI DI QUALSIASI RELIGIONE SCAPPATI DALLA GUERRA e accolti nella nostra città di Cesena.
Per cui la vostra frase “hanno dato molti soldi ai cattolici ucraini” non solo è falsa, è assolutamente in MALAFEDE.
Vi invito ad INFORMARVI prima di parlare.
Con amore fraterno. Eli.
52 vouchers worth $120 euros each comes out to $6,240. That’s a lot of money. And yes, those are all images of the Virgin Mary. 5 images and one idol of Mary (behind them) in just one picture.