TheAssemblies of God in Italy (Italian:Assemblee di Dio in Italia,ADI), whose full name isEvangelical Christian Churches Assemblies of God in Italy (Chiese Cristiane Evangeliche Assemblee di Dio in Italia), is a fellowship ofevangelical andPentecostal churches which functions as theItalian branch of theInternational Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, while being in communion with theWorld Assemblies of God Fellowship as well.
The ADI traces its roots in the "Italian Pentecostal revival" led byLouis Francescon among Italian immigrants inChicago in 1907, that led to the formation of theChristian Congregation.[1] From Chicago, pioneers like Francescon, Giacomo Lombardi, Pietro Ottolini, Lucia Menna, Umberto Gazzari, and Louis Terragnoli went back to Italy in order to spread the Pentecostal gospel and establish Pentecostal churches.[2][3]
During theFascist regime, a letter issued byGuido Buffarini Guidi, undersecretary of the Interior, provided grounds to shut all Pentecostal congregations in Italy.[4]
After thefall of Fascism, it was still difficult for Pentecostals to practice their faith and religious freedom, due to legal and social obstacles. Thus, several Pentecostal congregations sought a purely nominal affiliation with theAssemblies of God USA.[1] The ADI was consequently founded in 1948.[2]
In 1986 the denomination signed an agreement with the Italian government, in accordance with art. 8 of theConstitution of Italy;[5] the agreement became law in 1988.[6]
According to CESNUR, a think tank, the ADI is the single largest Protestant denomination in Italy. As of 2013, it counts 1,028 congregations, 150,000 members and 590 pastors.[2] The church is more numerous in theSouth, especiallyCampania,Apulia,Basilicata,Calabria andSicily, where it has more than half of its congregations.[7]
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