The Great Mosque of Paris offers the Pope a “meeting” between Christians and Muslims
The rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, was received in audience by Pope Francis in the morning of February 10, 2025. Three years after a first interview with the Vatican, the rector proposed the organization of a interreligious event in Paris, under the patronage of the Pope, “Marking the friendship of Christians and Muslims in Europe”.
“” In Europe, the fraternity between Christians and Muslims (…) is however threatened by indifference, dehumanization, the fear of the other and the next day », Writes Chems-Eddine Hafiz in a letter he has given Pope Francis directly this morning.
On the occasion of a private audience of about half an hour, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, helped by an Arabic language interpreter, was able to present to the 88-year-old pontiff the idea of an event In the minds of interreligious meetings. In 1986, Pope John Paul II had gathered in the city of Saint Francis the representatives of the great religious traditions for a first “World Prayer for Peace Day”.
The new event could be done this year “and refer to the name of Saint-Augustin, a figure of convergence between the lands of East and West”, imagines the one who is also chairman of the new European Coordination Council Ammale, a Movement that brings together Muslim officials from Europe.
Deleterious atmosphere
According to the rector, Pope Francis gave an agreement in principle and asked him to get closer to Cardinal George Koovakad, the brand new prefect of the Dicaster for interreligious dialogue. Chems-Eddine Hafiz had already had a first interview with Father Laurent Basanese who worked in this department erected by Pope Paul VI at the time of Vatican Council II.
In his letter, the rector deplores that Islam is perceived in the West through the “A distorting prism of terrorism and violence”.“The pope himself recognizes that there is today a deleterious atmosphere concerning Muslims in Europe and is worried about this drift where we are normalizing the attacks on Muslims”tells Chems-Eddine Hafiz to Imedia. In his missive, he testifies that “Europe Muslims also act as protectors, citizens, and intend to draw a future of peace”.
Asked about the participation of other religious representatives in the possible event, the rector responds positively, notably evoking the participation of managers of the Jewish community.
Invitation to the Great Mosque in Paris
During the meeting, the Franco-Algerian offered the Pope a translation of the Koran in French. He also renewed his invitation to come to the Great Mosque in Paris. During a first meeting at the Vatican in February 2022, the Pope had told him that he would go to the Great Mosque in Paris in the event of a trip to the French capital. “However, it was not the subject of the day “Comments the rector, marked by the fatigue of Pope Francis.
Suffering from bronchitis for a few days, the pope has now received from his Sainte-Marthe du Vatican residence and no longer in the apostolic palace. Yesterday, during a mass for the jubilee of the armed forces, he interrupted the reading of his homily, confident having “Respiratory difficulties”.
