Christian evangelist Lou Engle, Catholic leader Matteo Calisi kiss each other's foot in symbolic act of reconciliation

Christian evangelist Lou Engle of The Call kisses the shoe of Catholic leader Matteo Calisi during the "Azusa Now" prayer event in Los Angeles City on Saturday. (YouTube/Azusa Now)

When a Roman Catholic leader came up to Christian evangelist Lou Engle of The Call and offered to "kiss his feet" to show unity between Christians and Catholics, Engle agreed and later also got down on his knee to kiss the Catholic leader's shoe.

The act took place during "Azusa Now," a 15-hour prayer event hosted by The Call, which was attended by over 100,000 people at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Christian News reports.

Engle specifically invited Roman Catholics to the event because he wanted to bring all followers of Christ together "for the purpose of unity, miracles, healing, and the proclamation of the gospel."

Catholic leader Matteo Calisi, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to serve on the Pontifical Council for the Laity, said during the event that the division between Christians and Catholics is a "diabolical sin," and that Jesus "doesn't care" that Christians and Catholics disagree on biblical doctrine.

"He doesn't care about our differences," he said. "We're not going to be known by our differences, but for the love we have for one another."

He later offered to kiss Engle's foot, and Engle later returned the favour. Others gathered around and laid hands on them as they broke the "spirit of division."

There were some who praised the gesture as a "tender moment," but many others were concerned by what Engle and Calisi did.

"What's up with Lou Engle letting the representative of the Catholic Church kiss his feet because it would logistically be impossible to wash his feet?" a man from Brazil commented. "I seem to remember John falling at the feet of an angel... and the angel freaked out! He yanked John up onto his feet and admonished him for doing so. Worship God!!!"

Engle was also accused of "false teachings and practices," and people told him to stop with his "malarkey."

News
Relief for Kristie Higgs as Supreme Court denies school's appeal in Facebook post case
Relief for Kristie Higgs as Supreme Court denies school's appeal in Facebook post case

The decision ends a years-long legal battle over religious free speech for the Christian teacher.

NHS England bosses side with female nurses in trans changing rooms row
NHS England bosses side with female nurses in trans changing rooms row

"Rose" offered to help educate the women as to why they should be willing to get undressed in front of him.

Ann Widdecombe: Gen Z’s return to faith is no surprise
Ann Widdecombe: Gen Z’s return to faith is no surprise

Ann Widdecombe, former MP and long-standing Christian voice in public life, believes the apparent resurgence of interest in Christianity among Britain’s youth is not as unexpected as it seems.

Despite frustrations, few pastors leave pulpit annually - study
Despite frustrations, few pastors leave pulpit annually - study

Though record levels of pastors, including more than half in mainline Protestant churches, seriously considered leaving full-time ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic, only about 1% of them have been leaving ministry work annually in the last decade, a new Lifeway Research study finds.