The pope suggested he was uncomfortable with “the style of prayer in that time and place,” adding, “In fact, I prefer to pray in a Catholic Church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.”
Islam
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Ahead of Pope Leo’s trip, a look at Christian life in Muslim-majority Turkey
On the eve of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Turkey for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, America spoke with Jean-Marc Balhan, S.J., a Belgian Jesuit who has lived in the country since 2001, about the situation of Christians, the state of interreligious dialogue and how the pope’s visit is viewed there. Father […]
Posted inFeatures
When Eastern and Western church calendars lined up, Christians celebrated the Ascension at this Jerusalem chapel
This is the story of how Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians in Jerusalem came to celebrate their feast of the Ascension in the holy space where they all believe Jesus ascended to heaven.
Posted inNews
Head of far-right Spanish political party criticizes Catholic bishops’ defense of Muslim community
The Spanish bishops’ conference was criticized by the head of Spain’s far-right VOX party after the church expressed religious concerns following a local council’s measure that would effectively ban Muslims from holding religious events in certain areas.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
What Pope Francis meant to me and the Muslim world
I never met Pope Francis, but I was one of millions who admired his work.
Posted inFaith, News
Syrian refugee family that Pope Francis brought to Rome prays for him as they build new life
In 2016, the Zaheda flew to Italy from Lesbos on the pope’s plane. “He’s a gift from paradise,” Hasan Zaheda said on Sunday. “Pope Francis, a gift from our God, that God sent us to save us.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
At a mosque in Indonesia, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam reach another milestone in Catholic-Muslim dialogue
During his visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis and the grand imam of the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta signed the ”Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024,” which aims at “fostering religious harmony for the sake of humanity.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Jakarta’s Grand Imam ‘very much hopes’ Pope Francis will enter Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia
Pope Francis will arrive at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia, tomorrow morning, where he will sign an important document with the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Podcast: A Muslim theologian on teaching at a Jesuit university
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley talk with Professor Amir Hussain, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University, about life and teaching as a Muslim at a Catholic university.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
I’m a Catholic priest who fasts for Ramadan. Here’s what it taught me about Lent.
Observing Ramadan, a sacred time of fasting in the Islamic world, heightens my awareness of the afflictions that so many are forced to endure and the ways our world still needs healing.