Last Updated Feb 19th, 2020 at 6:30 am

For the first time in the 500 years since the Protestant Reformation, Protestants are set to receive Catholic communion during a Catholic Mass held at reformer John Calvin's home church, the historic St. Pierre Cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland.

The church, known as Calvin's Cathedral, is one of the most iconic sites in all of Protestantism.

Although open communion is forbidden by Catholic doctrine, it is reportedly common in Geneva.

St. Pierre Cathedral became the home of French Protestant reformer John Calvin, a towering figure in the Protestant Reformation who is regarded as one of the greatest theologians in Protestant Christian history. His personal chair still sits by the pulpit.

Parish council president Daniel Pilly said he has faced no opposition to the idea of Catholic Mass at the historic church nor Protestants receiving Catholic communion:

"The idea appealed because it corresponds to our desire to make the cathedral a meeting place for all Geneva Christians. A space that transcends confessional boundaries.



As Pope Francis said, ecumenism is achieved by walking. We are trying to walk together in the hope that when we have made enough progress, the obstacles that seem to us today insurmountable will no longer be."

The event is scheduled to take place on leap-year day, February 29.