As has happened in other European countries, global migration has significantly altered the Italian religious landscape. Although Italy has often been described as a “Catholic country,” the National Bishops’ Conference reports that Italy today is experiencing a noticeable decline in attendance at Catholic mass.
At the same time, in many places in Italy, new faith communities are growing, the largest of which are Islamic. There are now over 2,000,000 Muslims in Italy, most of whom are either immigrants or the children or grandchildren of immigrants. However, there is also a growing number of Italians who are converting to Islam.
Many Methodist and Waldensian congregations are active in dialogue with neighboring Islamic communities and participate in the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Day, which since 2002 has taken place each year on October 27. Waldensians and Methodist leaders have frequently denounced Islamophobic attitudes. They have also criticized legislative measures that would prevent the opening of new mosques or the setting aside of land for Muslim cemeteries.