In his recent trip to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV called for Christians to stop viewing Islam as a threat and encouraged his flock to become friends with Muslims. He used Lebanon as an example where the minority Christians and majority Muslims make up a significant portion of the population. What Leo failed to mention is that the Christian community in Lebanon has been in steady decline for years and has been the recipient of reports of religious persecution.
The ancient land where the nascent Church took root was the backdrop for Leo’s comments. He did not use the opportunity to encourage the government of Lebanon and Islam to foster mutual respect, allowing Christianity to gain converts to bolster its dwindling numbers. Instead, he took the time to bash Christians in Europe and North America.
Pope Leo appears to believe that unfettered immigration is not the source of destabilizing countries, but takes the position that citizens of a country not welcoming Muslims are the problem. He said the fears are “often fueled by people opposed to immigration who seek to exclude those who come from another country, another religion, or another ethnic background.” He went on to say, “Perhaps we should be a little less fearful and look for ways to promote authentic dialogue and respect. I know that, in practice, this has not always been the case. I know that fears persist in Europe.”
Typical of the Church’s hierarchy stance on immigration, the fallout of undocumented immigration is never mentioned. The Church’s leaders fail or consciously ignore the rise in criminal activities with increased immigration and the lack of assimilation.
Putting that issue aside for the moment, a greater threat to Christianity is happening with this type of naivety. Granted, it is a duty of the Church to work for peace even with its enemies, but that can only happen by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a peaceful message. Jesus told his Apostles to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all that he has commanded. This is the mission of the Church.
When Pope Leo did not object to a prayer room in the Vatican and his words about living with Muslims as friends, he relativized religion by insinuating that Islam is as valid a religion as Christianity. There is only one way to salvation, and it is through Jesus Christ as the Son of God, rejected by the Muslims. Leo’s first duty is to proclaim the Gospel to all corners of the world.
You can’t help but wonder what Pope Leo would think about his words of conciliation after he hears from an Islamic scholar. Mohammad Nusairat from Leo’s native Chicago stated that the Prophet Mohammed said, Islam is always superior and should never be surpassed. Quoting Mohammad, he reiterated, “Islam is raised high, and nothing is raised above Islam.”
Nusairat continued, “We can’t think of Islam that it came to live with these other religions in the sense that Islam is a religion amongst those religions, and they have a share with the truth, and they have a share of justice, and they have a share of the correct worship Allah. Islam came to correct all of that. Islam came to remove the oppression of all those religions, and it is the only truth, and it is the only way to justice.”
If most of Islam follows the belief of Nusairat, then it is on a collision course with Christianity. Leo should put his energies into proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and spend less time making friends with those who do not like you very much and are not willing to make any concessions. Christianity is not a relative religion; it is the only one.