Great Mufti of Syria Joins Pope Francis in Praying for Peace on September 7

Great Mufti of Syria Joins Pope Francis in Praying for Peace on September 7 September 3, 2013

Ommayad Mosque in Damascus, Syria

The Great Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassou, would like to travel to Rome to attend Pope Francis’ prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica on September 7.

The spiritual leader of Sunni Islam in Syria was “deeply affected by the Pope’s appeal for peace in Syria” during last Sunday’s Angelus address, and sent a letter to the Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, Mario Zenari, expressing his hope that he will be able to attend the vigil.

According to Fides news agency, the Great Mufti said,

“Everybody perceives the Pope as a father who cares about the future of the Syrian people and wants to protect the whole Syrian society, in its various components, so that it is not destroyed by religious divisions and radicalism.”

However, he will likely not be able to attend the vigil due to logistical or other reasons.

The Great Mufti invites all Syrian Muslims to pray for peace in mosques in Damascus and across Syria on September 7, at the same time as and in communion with the Pope.  It is expected that Muslim groups, tribal communities, the Druzes, the Ismaelites and other components of Syrian society will come together in prayer.


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