In Rome's Embrace: When Adventist Pastors Find Comfort in the Papal Arms of Sunday Ecumenical Worship

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Giovanni Caccamo, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, publicly embraced Roman Catholic Bishop Antonio Napolioni during an ecumenical worship service commemorating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The gesture symbolized a visible unity between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Italy within a formal ecumenical setting. Giovanni Caccamo is the same Adventist pastor who previously signed the Ecumenical Charter-a document affirming faith in "one holy Catholic Apostolic Church" and expressing solidarity with Rome and the other Christian churches-raising serious theological and prophetic concerns when examined in the light of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. [1]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cremona published the news report announcing the ecumenical event that brought together four Christian denominations from the region on its official website:

• "Listening and unity: these were the themes of the ecumenical prayer vigil held in Cremona, in the Seminary church, on the evening of Sunday, January 18, the day on which the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins each year." [2]

• "The vigil was presided over by representatives of the four Christian denominations present in the area: Bishop Antonio Napolioni for the Catholic Church, Father Constantin Munteanu for the Romanian Orthodox Church, Pastor Nicola Tedoldi for the Waldensian Methodist Church, and Pastor Giovanni Caccamo for the Seventh-day Adventist Church." [2]

Giovanni Caccamo continues to participate on behalf of Seventh-day Adventists in ecumenical worship services organized under Roman Catholic leadership. This raises a serious question: how is it possible for him to continue representing our people after signing the abominable Ecumenical Charter, which affirms unity with Rome? Such actions eliminate our doctrinal positions and create confusion about where the remnant church stands. God tells us that Rome does not change and that it will only accept and welcome us when we compromise, give in, and abandon the distinctive truths that have been entrusted to us. Unity achieved at the expense of truth is not unity at all, but surrender-something God has never asked His people to do.

"Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them. If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of the papacy" (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 223).

Who benefits today from our silence and compromise? Who gains when the Three Angels' Messages are set aside? Who stands to profit when Bible truth and Reformation history are replaced with ecumenism and so-called common ground with Rome? The answer is clear: the Vatican benefits, and its objective is advanced.

"Voices that should now be heard presenting the truth are silent. Souls are perishing in their sins, and ministers and physicians and teachers are asleep. Wake up the watchmen!" (Pacific Union Recorder, February 20, 1908).

One of the most terrifying and inexplicable challenges facing Adventism today is the utter silence on the part of those who should be speaking out loud and clear. It is unconscionable and disturbing to know that some ministers and watchmen would actually suppress our message for the sake of joining up with Rome in interfaith worship. Why? Because the Remnant church of Bible prophecy exists in this period of earth's history for one purpose-to give the last invitation of mercy to our dying world:

"The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands his servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls." (Great Controversy, 609).

Jesus did not remain silent-and neither can we. We have been entrusted with an end-time, present-truth message, ordained by God to be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Have our lives become so comfortable and our institutions so prosperous that we are willing to purchase peace at the price of silence? God forbid!

"Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls" (Desire of Ages, 356).

Rome's objectives are diametrically opposed to the mission of God's remnant people. In order to appease Rome and join her vision of a universal religious, economic, and political order, one would have to compromise the Three Angels' Messages-the very messages God has given to expose the aims and claims of the papacy. For this reason, Rome cannot be satisfied with half measures or a supposed middle ground. What is ultimately demanded of us is complete surrender.

It is tragic that so many have already yielded themselves to Rome's vision of universal fraternity. Yet God has always preserved a faithful remnant-men and women who will not bow the knee to Baal, who will not trade truth for acceptance, and who will remain loyal to Him no matter the cost.

"Think you that I can remain silent, when I see an effort being made to sweep away the foundation pillars of our faith?" (3 Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 38).

Instead of becoming preachers of righteousness, many of our ministers have become champions of silence. They deviate away from our divinely appointed mission and instead seek common ground with the world on many social and political issues. We see church officials dedicating themselves to environmentalism, ecumenism, Romanism, feminism, and the LGBT+ movement instead of giving the people the true warnings from God's word about the real dangers that threaten them. And it's not just some in the ministerial work doing this; the sin of silence is everywhere. It's in our religious liberty work, our humanitarian work, our educational work, and even our medical work.

The current ecumenical movement only confirms what we already knew. Over 100 years ago God warned us against becoming silent with our message while at the same time seeking to unite with those who "depart from the faith." The following statement reveals not our ignorance but our disobedience to God's instruction.

"The world knows very little of the truths that we believe, and in clear, straight lines the message for this time must be given to all the world. The message comes to me, 'Wake up the watchmen.' Let every one now come into working order ... We have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people, Unify, unify. But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. With our hearts sweet and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth" (Review and Herald, April 19, 1906).

Sources

[1] https://adventmessenger.org/seventh-day-adventists-roman-catholics-and-evangelicals-sign-a-historic-ecumenical-charter-that-affirms-faith-in-one-holy-catholic-apostolic-church/

[2] https://www.diocesidicremona.it/unita-dei-cristiani-la-settimana-di-preghiera-aperta-in-seminario-con-una-veglia-ecumenica-19-01-2026.html

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This release was published on openPR.