Catholic Culture News
Catholic Culture News
Catholic World News

Al Azhar welcomes Pope's claim that Islam is not violent

August 04, 2016

Egypt's Al Azhar University, the world's leading institution of Sunni Islam, has welcomed the statement by Pope Francis that Islam is not responsible for terrorist violence.

Responding to the papal statement-- made during an exchange with reporters on his return flight after a visit to Poland-- Al Azhar said: "This statement reflects the pontiff's understanding of the true nature of Islam and its teachings of tolerance."

 


For all current news, visit our News home page.


 
Further information:
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

  • Posted by: R. Spanier (Catholic Canadian) - Aug. 09, 2016 9:34 PM ET USA

    "The Islamic State is a byproduct of Al Azhar's programs... Al Azhar says there must be a caliphate and that it is an obligation for the Muslim world. Al Azhar teaches the law of apostasy and killing the apostate. Al Azhar is hostile towards religious minorities... like not building churches. Al Azhar upholds the institution of jizya. Al Azhar teaches stoning people. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic?" Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Nasr, Islamic law scholar & Al Azhar University graduate.

  • Posted by: Bernadette - Aug. 05, 2016 9:26 PM ET USA

    Then the Pope is at odds with what many clergy, hierarchy, writers in the know have said and written of late with regard to Islam, among them Cardinal Burke, Fr. George Rutler, myriad writers of note in The Catholic Thing," "Catholic World Report," etc....If Islam is so peaceful, why don't these peaceful Imams fight back and come out against ISIS. Maybe they fear for their own lives? Read the Qu'ran (Koran) and see that infidels are to be murdered.

  • Posted by: unum - Aug. 04, 2016 5:20 PM ET USA

    Al Azhar University and the Holy Father need to get together and draft a more definitive statement about "peaceful Islam" to quell the total confusion in the non-Muslim world from their recent statements!