Catholic-Muslim Relations

The Latest

Father Custodio Ballester serves a parish in the Archdiocese of Barcelona, Spain.

Priest battles ‘hate crime’ charges for criticizing Islam

Mar 5, 2024

By Martin Barillas

A Spanish priest is facing up to three years in prison on “hate crime” charges for his heated words about... Read more

Sister María del Carmen, a Mexican Combonian missionary who served in Sudan.

Mexican religious sister tells how Christians live in Sudan, a Muslim-majority country

Mar 14, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

Sister María del Carmen Galicia stressed that “peaceful coexistence” is possible between the followers of Islam and Christianity. Read more

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations (left), and Mohammed Al-Hassan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations, at a signing ceremony establishing diplomatic relations between Oman and the Holy See. The ceremony took place  at the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations in New York City.

Holy See and the Sultanate of Oman establish diplomatic ties

Feb 23, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The move leaves only six countries worldwide without any diplomatic connection to the Vatican. Read more

Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sarajevo, where Pope Francis met with priests, religious, and seminarians, June 6, 2015.

The Muslim, the Catholic cardinal, and the church in Bosnia that could help heal deep divisions

Aug 30, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

A prominent Bosnian cardinal has said that “forgiveness can be achieved” following the consecration of a Catholic church in the... Read more

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin talks to EWTN Vatican correspondent Colm Flynn on March 19, 2022.

Cardinal Parolin urges negotiation to find a ‘win-win solution’ to war in Ukraine

Mar 22, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘The message of the Holy See, of the Holy Father, is to stop the war,’ the Vatican Secretary of State... Read more

Chems-Eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris.

After meeting Pope Francis, leader invites France’s Muslims to pray for peace in Ukraine

Feb 28, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope has asked people worldwide to fast and pray for an end to the conflict. Read more

People in Strasbourg, France, hold placards reading "Catholics, muslims, jews all are Charlie" during a unity rally on Jan. 11, 2015 following a mass shooting by Muslim terrorists at the offices of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

Christian-Muslim dialogue needs a foundation in everyday friendship, French Dominican says

Nov 26, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Progress in Christian-Muslim dialogue ultimately must come from Catholics and others who deliberately make efforts to befriend and understand Muslims,... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq, March 7, 2021.

Christian and Muslim leaders: Pope Francis' Iraq trip still bearing good fruit, but more dialogue needed

Sep 28, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis’ March visit with Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, a prominent Shiite Muslim cleric, has already helped to foster some... Read more

Pope Francis participates in an interreligious meeting at the site of Ur, outside Nasiriyah, Iraq, March 6, 2021.

What a Dominican priest from the Midwest has learned about Catholic-Muslim dialogue since 9/11

Sep 14, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Real-life relationships and a “holy curiosity” must be the basis for Catholic-Muslim dialogue, says a Dominican priest whose college discussions... Read more

Pope Francis meets Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, Iraq, March 6, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis in Iraq, Muslim dialogue, and persecuted Christians

Mar 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

Among the historic moments from the pope’s recent visit to Iraq was the establishment of a National Day of Tolerance... Read more

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.

Syrian government to build replica of Hagia Sophia

Jul 30, 2020

The government of Syria plans to build a replica of Hagia Sophia, with support from Russia, as a protest against... Read more

The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity meets at the Vatican, Sept. 11, 2019.

What is the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity?

May 14, 2020

By Courtney Mares

This week’s interreligious day of prayer is the first major worldwide initiative of a committee created by the United Arab... Read more

An inspection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Philippines, Jan. 28, 2019, a day after suicide bombs exploded at the church.

Indonesian police identify couple responsible for attack on Filipino cathedral

Jul 25, 2019

Indonesian authorities released Tuesday the names of a couple whom they believe to have orchestrated a January terrorist attack on... Read more

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo was the site of a terrorist attack Jan. 27, 2019.

Six months after terror attack, Philippines cathedral packed at rededication

Jul 23, 2019

Despite the fresh memory of a deadly terrorist attack in January, the rededication Mass of the Cathedral of Our Lady... Read more

Pope Francis greets Moroccan King Mohammed VI in Rabat March 30, 2019.

Pope Francis: God desires solidarity among Catholics and Muslims

Apr 3, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Reflecting upon his recent apostolic journey to Morocco, Pope Francis said Wednesday that God desires a greater sense of fraternity... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the Moroccan people on the esplanade of the Hassan Tower in Rabat, March 30, 2019.

Religious freedom is about human dignity, pope says in Morocco

Mar 30, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

During his first meeting in Rabat Saturday, Pope Francis underlined the importance of religious liberty and its connection to the... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience Feb. 6, 2019.

Pope says UAE trip was 'new page' in dialogue between Christians, Muslims

Feb 6, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said Wednesday that his recent trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates was a step forward... Read more

Pope Francis and Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, signed a joint declaration on human fraternity during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 4, 2019.

Pope Francis signs peace declaration on ‘Human Fraternity’ with Grand Imam

Feb 4, 2019

By Mary Farrow

Catholics, Muslims and all who believe in God must work together to build a culture of love, peace and human... Read more

Pope Francis embraces Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, in Cairo, April 28, 2017.

Popes in the Middle East: Highlights of papal outreach in the region

Feb 2, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis is set to celebrate the first papal Mass on the Arabian peninsula next week during his Feb. 3-5... Read more

Muslims and Christians unite to rebuild Mosul monastery

Jun 5, 2017

As government forces pry apart the Islamic State's three yearlong grip on Mosul, Muslims and Christians have united to rebuild... Read more