It is true that in 2020 I signed the Ecumenical Charter of Bologna. I acknowledge that this was not an appropriate decision. Precisely because of that reflection, my signature was later withdrawn from the document signed by nine Christian denominations. The Seventh-day Adventist Church formally removed itself from that agreement and is no longer part of that charter.

When Defending Truth Becomes a Distortion: A Response from the Adventist Pastor Involved

I am the Seventh-day Adventist pastor referred to in the article published by Advent Messenger concerning the ecumenical prayer vigil held in Cremona, Italy, on January 18, 2026. My name is Giovanni Caccamo.

It is deeply disappointing to see a website that claims to defend biblical truth doing so by misrepresenting facts and creating a misleading narrative.

First, the assertion that I “found comfort in the arms of Rome” is false and sensationalistic. The gesture described as an “embrace” was nothing more than a customary greeting in Italian culture. I exchanged the same greeting not only with the Catholic bishop but also with the Methodist pastor and the Orthodox priest present. The article selectively highlights only the greeting with the Catholic representative, intentionally ignoring the others in order to manufacture scandal.

Second, the vigil was not a Sunday Mass, as implied. It was scheduled at 9:00 p.m. as an ecumenical prayer gathering for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was not part of a Catholic liturgical celebration. Presenting it as Sunday worship is therefore inaccurate and misleading.

Third, in Italy, Adventist participation in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity does not mean doctrinal union or theological compromise. It is understood as a moment of testimony, preaching, listening, and mutual respect. Unity does not mean fusion. It means recognizing certain shared concerns among Christians—such as youth distress, social violence, and the loss of moral values—and expressing a common voice on these issues while remaining faithful to one’s own identity.

There are many values that Christians around the world hold in common. Acknowledging them does not require abandoning distinctive beliefs or the prophetic mission entrusted to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

What is truly regrettable is not ecumenical courtesy, but an Adventism that judges and condemns without knowing, without listening, and without understanding the local context. There are territories where building respectful relationships is not only useful but necessary for peaceful coexistence and for meaningful Christian witness.

Truth does not need distortion in order to be defended. The Three Angels’ Messages are not served by misrepresentation, nor is prophecy honored by transforming gestures of courtesy into acts of apostasy.

My conscience is clear before God and before my church. I remain a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, committed to biblical truth and to honest witness in the society where God has placed me.

Giovanni Caccamo
Seventh-day Adventist Pastor, Italy