Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy


The Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy is a Protestant denomination in the Lutheran tradition in Italy.
Founded in 1949, the CELI/ELKI, which includes both German- and Italian-speaking communities, is a member of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Lutheran World Federation.
The first Lutheran community in Italy was formed in Venice in 1650. Within the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Lutheran churches were formed in Trieste, Merano and Bolzano. Under Prussian influence, communities were formed in Rome, Naples and Florence. Finally, German-speaking citizens established churches in Milan, Sanremo and Genoa. Lutheranism flourished in Naples and Torre Annunziata thanks to the missionary work of pastor Idelmo Poggioli. All the aforementioned communities were gathered in the CELI/EKLI since 1949. Other churches were formed, notably in Catania, Verona and Turin, under the supervision of CELI/ELKI, which was a founding member of the FCEI in 1967.
The denomination includes 17 communities, some of which covering entire regions, and more than 7,000 baptized members.
The CELI/ELKI allows the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions, in line with other FCEI denominations.

Gallery of churches