The Diocesan Assembly and Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy brought together more than 900 clergy, monastics and lay representatives on Tuesday in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
The proceedings of the Diocesan Assembly were presided over by Bishop Siluan, who presented the main directions of diocesan activity and oversaw the review of reports from the departments of the Diocesan Centre, the execution of the 2025 budget, and the proposed budget for 2026.
Pastoral and missionary achievements
During the Diocesan Congress, participants highlighted the principal pastoral-missionary, educational and social-philanthropic achievements of Romanian Orthodox communities in Italy.
The data presented illustrated the scale of diocesan activity, which by the end of 2025 comprised 481 pastoral-missionary units, alongside monasteries, sketes, chapels and pastoral centres.
Educational and formation programmes were also emphasised. More than 11,000 faithful benefited from catechetical programmes and parish schools organised within Romanian communities across Italy. Reference was also made to the activity of the Rome Extension of the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology, as well as to diocesan-level youth camps and meetings.
The total value of social-philanthropic assistance provided in 2025 exceeded €1 million, through projects dedicated to children, the elderly, vulnerable families, and Romanians in the Republic of Moldova and northern Bukovina.
The Church as a pillar of cohesion
The Diocesan Assembly was attended by His Excellency George Bologan, Romania’s Ambassador to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as Her Excellency Gabriela Dancău, Romania’s Ambassador to Italy.
Ambassador Gabriela Dancău highlighted the role of the Church in the life of Romanian communities abroad.
“A moment of reflection and responsibility in a context marked by polarisation, in which the Church remains a pillar of cohesion for the Romanian diaspora community,” she wrote in a post on X.
In turn, Ambassador George Bologan emphasised the spiritual dimension of contemporary crises.
“The evils of the world are the consequence of inner evil. The imbalances from which the world suffers are caused by the corrupted human heart. To heal this inner evil, we do not need cardiologists, but spiritual fathers,” he said.
State–Church agreement
Key developments in diocesan administration were also presented. The most significant was the signing of an agreement between the Italian state and the diocese on 20 February 2025. The document has been submitted to Parliament and is scheduled for a vote in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the final decision-making body.
This agreement is significant as it officially recognises the Romanian Orthodox Church as a partner of the Italian state, enabling it to operate on a long-term basis under stable conditions.
The agreement facilitates access to legal rights that support religious and social activities and enhances protection for Romanian communities living in Italy.
Photo: Diocese of Italy
