The rector of the great mosque of Paris, Chems-eddine Hafiz, will be received this Monday, February 28 by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
It's a first.
This professional lawyer, close to Algeria where he is from, is one of the figures of Islam in France.
On the occasion of this meeting - which he had requested at the end of December and for which the pope immediately responded - he will invite Francis to come and visit the great mosque of Paris.
In an eight-page letter that the rector will deliver personally to the pope, he outlines the scope that such a move could have: "
the threat of arms, extremism, adversity, exclusion and Selfishness is growing on the Old Continent.
This threat hangs over France more particularly
.
But “
France, the eldest daughter of the Church, brings together the greatest number of Jews and Muslims in Europe.
If the divisions of French society worsen, religious coexistence will yield to intolerance, in Europe and everywhere in the world where existences mingle between borders.
»
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Hence his invitation: “
The word of His Holiness is able to heal these wounds and restore meaning to humanity and to fraternity.
In my name, in the name of the imams who are at my side and in the name of all Muslims in France, we would be extremely honored to receive the Most Holy Father at the Great Mosque of Paris.
»
In his missive which evokes the efforts of Pope Francis for the rapprochement between Christians and Muslims and between all religions, the rector of the great mosque of Paris evokes the importance of common actions in the educational and charitable fields but also for the fight ideas.
He quotes in particular "
The Manifesto against Islamist terrorism"
which he published in September 2021 and which he then sent to the Pope.
A “tough challenge to take up”
Master Hafiz explains: “
After years of terrorist threats, after the tragic beheading of Professor Samuel Paty in October 2020, the representatives of Islam had to demonstrate and explain to everyone that their religion does not engender violence.
".
But the “
challenge is so bitter to take up
” for “
the Muslims of France
” believes Chems-eddine Hafiz that they must also be able to count on “
the Catholic Church in France”
.
And to recall recent events where he does not however designate the responsibility of Islam but he highlights the Catholic response: "
when terrorists assassinated the priest Jacques Hamel, in his church of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, or carried away three innocent souls to the basilica of Nice, the Catholics of France and their representatives welcomed with open arms the Muslims who came to show them their incomprehension and their fear.
During these unbearable events, like the rest of the time, I was infinitely touched by the dignity and the remarkable human, spiritual and intellectual qualities of the leaders of the Catholic Church in France
.
»
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A support that is not obvious, as this Muslim leader deplores: “
this is the image I have of France and that I want to show the world.
This is unfortunately not the whole reality of this country where mistrust and rejection of others are gaining ground.
A blind fear of my co-religionists sets in and releases hatred.
»
Hence his “
serious concern with regard to this decisive moment in the history of the peoples of Europe, who are less and less able to repel the horrors of extremism.
And that should be one of the highlights of the conversation.
