After the news of the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, the Islamic Center of Argentina regretted his passing and stressed that “from the first day of his pontificate, he was concerned and worked to achieve a culture of peace and solidarity with the humble and needy”.
Through a statement, the Islamic institution based in Buenos Aires (capital) called to mind the first apostolic exhortation made by Francis on November 24, 2013, where he mentioned the relationship between Muslims and Christians.
“In these times, the relationship with the believers of Islam, nowadays particularly present in many countries of Christian tradition where they can freely celebrate their worship and live integrated into society”, were the words of Francis said on that day, as recalled by the Islamic Center of Argentina.
Likewise, the document highlighted the meeting that took place on February 4, 2019 between the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, capital of Egypt, Shaykh Ahmed el Tayyeb and Pope Francis in the United Arab Emirates.
“That historic trip marked the first visit of a Catholic pontiff to the Arabian Peninsula,” the communiqué noted, while stressing that among the agreements reached at that meeting were the assumption of dialogue, joint collaboration and reciprocal knowledge as a path, conduct and method, respectively.
“His physical disappearance will not prevent us from always remembering him as a good soul who fought tirelessly for a world of love, peace, solidarity and coexistence”, the text read.
As a tireless fighter for world peace and reconciliation between Muslims, Christians and Jews, Francis also called on several occasions for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip.
In his last public appearance before his death, the pope called for a ceasefire in Gaza, called for the hostages to be released, asked for humanitarian aid and for a halt to the race to rearm.
On October 7, 2024, one year after the start of the genocide in Gaza, Francis sent a message to Catholics living in the Middle East, asking them to pray for peace and fast for justice in the region, setting aside divisions and looking at the unity and well-being of humanity.
