Mormons, close to the Vatican: a challenge for the Catholic Church? – 25/04/2019

There are more than 900 churches in Romebut until now, there was no Mormon temple. The Church of Jesus Christ of the last days has recently opened its new complex on the outskirts of the Italian capital, the biggest in Europe: a six-hectare site where there is a large temple where they officiate, their most special ceremonies, a church for ordinary celebrations, a reception center where they give lectures on their history and beliefs and even a hotel for members of this place religion can be adapted during their stay in Rome.

Everything happens a few kilometers from the Vatican, even if this church's relationship with the Holy See has never been easy. In March, Pope Francis was the first pontiff to receive the Mormon president, Russell M. Nelson, from a "friendly" meeting during which they talked about their commonalities, such as "the family, religious freedom or love for Christ, "says Alessandro Dini Ciacci, the highest authority of Mormons in Italy.

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In addition to teaching a different doctrine about Jesus Christ, they have rites that the Catholic Church disapproves of, such as baptism by immersion, baptism for the deceased or a marriage concept that does not last until death, but for all eternity.

Place this monumental infrastructure here it seems a direct challenge to the Roman curiabut Dini Ciacci denies it outright. "When the church decides to build a temple, it is usually built in the capital because it is the one that communicates best with the rest of the country. Rome is also the center of Christianity. Pedro and Pablo came here to carry their message, "he explains in an interview in one of the reception center rooms.

Until now, the 25,000 Mormons living in Italy have had to drive for several hours to the Bern Temple in Switzerland. That of Rome is today the twelfth of Europe, a continent with half a million people who profess a religion that forbids them to drink alcohol, to use drugs or to smoke. but who also condemns homobaduality or pre-marital relationships. In a gesture of apparent modernization, Mormons come to accept that children of same-bad couples can be baptized. There are 162 Mormon temples in the world and 50 more are under construction..

All these rules will also apply to the temple of Rome, a concrete construction that does not fit the architecture of the city. Halfway between Soviet rationalism and futurism, the building extends over 3,800 square meters and will be spread over eight years.

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Funded with donations from their supporters, they do not want to reveal how much it cost them. "The faith of each member", smiles Dini Ciacci. It is crowned by the figure of an angel without golden wings, representing the ancient prophet Moroni, of the Book of Mormon. At his feet, dozens of people come and go in unpolluted gardens. Most of them are American Mormon tourists, where he was born in the 19th century this religion which already has 16 million members.

Before March 9, the date of its consecration, the temple entrance was free for everyone and these ensure that up to 52,000 people came to visit it. But since then, it is totally forbidden for those who are not Mormons to access their inner rooms, where rites such as baptism for the dead or eternal marriage are celebrated. The curious can only access the visitor center and a small reception room in the temple, where two volunteers dressed in white ask those who come to show cards signed by their church leader. They prove that the person is a member of this church and strives to live the gospel.

Getting here is not easy. They bought the land available in the Roman periphery, without a metro line in sight. The Porta di Roma, one of its largest shopping centers, is just a few meters away. But the most uncomfortable guest is probably the Pascia Club, a historic local striptease of the Roman night. It's in the same street.