Italian Roman Catholic church invites imam to preach about Islam

Bishop of the RCC Brindisi-Ostuni Giovanni Intini, who supported the initiative of the imam's address to parishioners. Photo: Tribune chretienne

On April 15, 2026, in the Italian city of Brindisi, an imam addressed parishioners in a Roman Catholic church, which sparked controversy among the faithful, reports Tribune chretienne.

The event took place in the parish of Saint Lawrence in the Sant-Elia district. Imam Khaled Boushelaghem, representing the local Islamic community, spoke from the church pulpit, where he talked about the fundamentals of Islam. Bishop Giovanni Intini of Brindisi-Ostuni also participated in the event and supported the initiative.

As reported by the diocese, the meeting was held as part of an interfaith dialogue program called "Do you know Islam?" and was aimed at developing mutual understanding between Catholics and Muslims.

At the same time, the initiative drew criticism from some believers who consider that such events blur the boundaries of the church's mission. In their opinion, a representative of another religion speaking in a temple is not an equal dialogue and calls into question the Church's role as guardian of its own faith.

It is noted that such meetings are not being held for the first time: previously, this same parish had already organized iftar during Ramadan. Against this background, some observers express concern that church spaces are increasingly being used for events related to other religious traditions.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a Muslim iftar was held for the first time in the German Bundestag.

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