first Waldensian ever to hold a Lectio Petri at Basilica di S. Pietro, invited by Cardinal Ravasi, who held him in high esteem and great friendship.
Above all he was a wonderful communicator; whether at huge gatherings or at small meetings, at‘ lay’ lectures or at Church groups, he was always preaching. When he was on a pulpit, even the easily bored or distracted would listen attentively to every word and he could get away with long, always captivating sermons. As our friend Peter Ciaccio emphasised, he taught us so much – above all: never undermine your interlocutors, answer every question, however irrelevant or silly. Lead your audience by the hand without lowering the level of your discussion. Ricca would attract any listener, firmly believing that his task was to be understood. Those who heard him would remember what he said and his name would fill any hall. He would accept invitations from small villages to major cities, and yet his constant humility always amazed me. He never forgot his origins( he was born in Torre Pellice), he loved the Valleys and, as Peter wrote, he was very ecumenical and very Waldensian.
For my part I can add with pride that when he presented some of my books he always said:‘ Erica can write!’
He was married to the lovely Stella, a fantastic pianist and piano teacher, was father to two children and they had just celebrated their 60th anniversary!
Thank you Lord, for gifting us Paolo! Erica Scroppo
Pope Francis( 1936-2025)
Pope Francis doesn’ t need any presentation, but there is something special that friends from our Churches who have met him can add. In 2015 he accepted an invitation to attend Turin’ s Waldensian church( built under Charles Beckwith’ s supervision, who had also designed it! and heavily sponsored by our Committee and the Banker Giuseppe Malan), which was a remarkable event! The then Moderator Eugenio Bernardini told me that originally they were thinking of Torre Pellice, but it would have been difficult for security … Anyway the result was very special and can be found in detail in the Summer Review of 2015( look online for no. 126). Several things were exceptional: the Pope asked the Waldensians for forgiveness for the‘ un-Christian, even inhuman way they were treated over the centuries’. He was given a reprint of the first French Bible commissioned by the poor Waldensians after joying the Reformation in 1532. Owning it was a grave offence for the Inquisition and might lead to execution: Francis kissed it! The Bible is now in the entrance of the Vatican Dicastery for Ecumenism and Dialogue. And at the end of the service, he‘ accepted’ the invocation of the Holy Spirit by a woman, the deacon, now Moderator Alessandra Trotta, which apparently is unusual.
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