Experts on Catholic history claim that the relationship between Pope Francis and Muslim leader Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb is proof that the current pope can claim the title “Friend of Islam.” In fact, experts claim that Pope Francis is the most credible candidate to hold that title in Catholic Church History.
Breitbart London reported on Pope Francis’ condemning the plan for Western strikes in Syria back in 2013. His decision earned him the love of Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun.
The Grand Imam and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders presented His Holiness Pope Francis with a painting of a section from the Document on Human Fraternity, painted by Diaa Allam, who holds the Guinness record for the longest glow-in-the-dark mural in the world pic.twitter.com/VIXf1M0HQq
— مجلس حكماء المسلمين (@MuslimElders) November 9, 2022
On Holy Thursday the Pope washed the feet of Muslim inmates. He has also become a vocal champion for the cause of Muslim refugees around the world.
Francis is known to criticize Western powers for attempting to install any form of democracy in places like Iraq and Syria.
Pope Francis: Bahrain trip ‘a new step’ in Christian-Muslim dialogue https://t.co/KoPZk1fnhl
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) November 9, 2022
In His recent meeting with el-Tyeb, the Pope offered the Muslim leader a hug that has been dubbed “hugely symbolic.” He told reporters that “(their) meeting is the message.”
Although all of the above is within reason for the Catholic leader, there is an issue with the Pope’s actions.
Several times, I heard the desire emerge that encounters between Christians and Muslims increase, that they form stronger relationships, that this be taken more to heart. https://t.co/pCD5WiVmzt
— America Magazine (@americamag) November 9, 2022
The Vatican has not released any transcripts from their conversation. A Vatican spokesperson said the two religious. leaders focused “on the common commitment of the authorities and faithful of the great religions to peace in the world, the rejection of violence and terrorism, the situation of Christians in the context of conflict and tension in the Middle East, and their protection.”
