The Vatican opens a Muslim prayer room, Sparking debate (article link)

[Delvianna]

"The Vatican Apostolic Library, one of the world’s most prestigious repositories of religious scholarship, has confirmed it now provides a dedicated prayer space for Muslim academics visiting its collections. This move has ignited passionate debate about the growing ties between the Vatican and Islam."

Vatican Opens Muslim Prayer Room Sparking Fierce Debate

The Vatican Apostolic Library, one of the world's most prestigious repositories of religious scholarship, has confirmed it now provides a dedicated prayer space for Muslim academics visiting its collections. This move has ignited passionate debate about the growing ties between the Vatican and...

israel365news.com

I'm curious what you guys think about it?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

"The Vatican Apostolic Library, one of the world’s most prestigious repositories of religious scholarship, has confirmed it now provides a dedicated prayer space for Muslim academics visiting its collections. This move has ignited passionate debate about the growing ties between the Vatican and Islam."

Vatican Opens Muslim Prayer Room Sparking Fierce Debate

The Vatican Apostolic Library, one of the world's most prestigious repositories of religious scholarship, has confirmed it now provides a dedicated prayer space for Muslim academics visiting its collections. This move has ignited passionate debate about the growing ties between the Vatican and...

israel365news.com

I'm curious what you guys think about it?

They are scholars not proselytizers. The way I see it, the longer they are able to stay the longer they learn about truth in Christ.

 

[Delvianna]

They are scholars not proselytizers. The why I see it, the longer they are able to stay the longer they learn about truth in Christ.

Thank you for your response and you raise a good point. But I'm curious, if you see this as a promotion of Islam or not, since they're being accommodating.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Thank you for your response and you raise a good point. But I'm curious, if you see this as a promotion of Islam or not, since they're being accommodating.

Not at all. Jesus Christ of Nazareth commanded us to spread the Gospel in love. If we can't be willing to share the Gospel to the harvest in our own backyard then we are unfruitful vessels.

 

[St_Worm2]

They are scholars not proselytizers. The way I see it, the longer they are able to stay the longer they learn about truth in Christ.

Hello Maria, I hope that you are correct Sister, but sadly, I don't think so! Time will tell.

God bless you!!

--David

 

[joymercy]

If they want to come to study in the library, then maybe accommodating their need to pray to God would help to open up and soften their hearts

Maybe some seeds would be planted this way, rather than providing rocky soil.

It could lessen their stress and fear levels and reduce frustration and anger over not being able to pray 5 times a day.

Why not allow them to get into a prayerful state?

We are showing them that we do care and we are also showing that we are generous and kind.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

It's not what you think, watch the video by Fr Leo

 

[chevyontheriver]

If they want to come to study in the library, then maybe accommodating their need to pray to God would help to open up and soften their hearts

Maybe some seeds would be planted this way, rather than providing rocky soil.

It could lessen their stress and fear levels and reduce frustration and anger over not being able to pray 5 times a day.

Why not allow them to get into a prayerful state?

We are showing them that we do care and we are also showing that we are generous and kind.

The ‘seeds that are planted’ will be Muslim seeds of ownership. They will want and expect the whole Vatican grounds.

Is there any church in the whole country of Saudi Arabia? As far as I know only embassy grounds allow any Christian services at all.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Vatican City is a city state and there are various non-religious shops and items there.
There is a barber shop, bakery and restaurants. There is also a library, which is open
to dignitaries visiting the Vatican, and some are not Catholic, but Jewish and Muslim. In
order to accommodate them, rooms within the library are set up for them. Muslims are
mandated to pray five times a day, so a room is set up for them to pray.

The Vatican is not turning Islamic. In fact, the news site, "Novus Ordo Watch"
posted a fabricated picture giving a misleading story concerning the Muslim prayer room.

See the previous video posted from Fr Leo.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Vatican City is a city state and there are various non-religious shops and items there.
There is a barber shop, bakery and restaurants. There is also a library, which is open
to dignitaries visiting the Vatican, and some are not Catholic, but Jewish and Muslim. In
order to accommodate them, rooms within the library are set up for them. Muslims are
mandated to pray five times a day, so a room is set up for them to pray.

The Vatican is not turning Islamic.

If a Muslim needs a ‘place to pray’ they can being their own prayer mat and set it up in a study cubicle. Nobody needs a dedicated space for that. Dedicating a space for that will be seen as a capitulation done out of weakness, and not out of generosity.

 

[Michie]

No, the Vatican is not opening a general prayer room for Muslims, though the Vatican Library has opened a prayer room specifically for its Muslim scholars. This prayer room is intended for scholarly use and reflects the Vatican's efforts to accommodate Muslim academics who visit for research, not to provide a public place of worship for all Muslims

 

[Michie]

Good grief.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

If a Muslim needs a ‘place to pray’ they can being their own prayer mat and set it up in a study cubicle. Nobody needs a dedicated space for that. Dedicating a space for that will be seen as a capitulation done out of weakness, and not out of generosity.

Not up to me, but Vatican officials.

As I posted, the Vatican is a city state and consists of more than just St Peter's Basilica.

 

[joymercy]

It's hard to know sometimes what to do, and I can see both sides of this issue

 

[Michie]

Reports circulating in media outlets and on social media in October 2025 allege that the Vatican has opened a prayer room for Muslims in the Apostolic Library.

Claim: The Vatican Library has opened a prayer room for Muslims.

CNA finds: The library does allow Muslim scholars a room in which to pray while they are on site doing research in the Vatican’s extensive archives.

Breakdown: In mid-October 2025, sensational news coverage rocketed around internet media outlets and social media feeds: The Vatican is “allow[ing]” a “designated Muslim prayer room” in its Apostolic Library (National Review); the library has “add[ed] a Muslim prayer room” (The Dallas Express); the Vatican has “[set] up [a] dedicated Muslim prayer room at [the] heart of [the] pope’s 500-year-old library” (GB News); the Holy See has “open[ed]” a “Muslim prayer room in [the] Apostolic Library” (EuroWeekly News).

Continued below.

Fact check: Did the Vatican Library open a prayer room for Muslims?

Reports circulating in media outlets and on social media in October 2025 allege that the Vatican has opened a prayer room for Muslims in the Apostolic Library.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Delvianna]

Reports circulating in media outlets and on social media in October 2025 allege that the Vatican has opened a prayer room for Muslims in the Apostolic Library.

Claim: The Vatican Library has opened a prayer room for Muslims.

CNA finds: The library does allow Muslim scholars a room in which to pray while they are on site doing research in the Vatican’s extensive archives.

Breakdown: In mid-October 2025, sensational news coverage rocketed around internet media outlets and social media feeds: The Vatican is “allow[ing]” a “designated Muslim prayer room” in its Apostolic Library (National Review); the library has “add[ed] a Muslim prayer room” (The Dallas Express); the Vatican has “[set] up [a] dedicated Muslim prayer room at [the] heart of [the] pope’s 500-year-old library” (GB News); the Holy See has “open[ed]” a “Muslim prayer room in [the] Apostolic Library” (EuroWeekly News).

Continued below.

Fact check: Did the Vatican Library open a prayer room for Muslims?

Reports circulating in media outlets and on social media in October 2025 allege that the Vatican has opened a prayer room for Muslims in the Apostolic Library.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

I don't see any difference than the one I posted. My conclusions on both and views are the same. Mulsims wanted a prayer room, the Vatican gave them one. This is why I asked Maria, "But I'm curious, if you see this as a promotion of Islam or not, since they're being accommodating." I never was under the impression it was for just any muslim off the street and pray, but was interested if people found it a promotion of Islam within the Vatican walls since they ARE supplying a room for them to pray to their false god in. Would they offer an alter to Krishna if a Hindu asked? I see no difference.

Edit: From the original article "Father Cardinali disclosed: “Some Muslim scholars have asked us for a room with a carpet for praying and we have given it to them.”"

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I don't see any difference than the one I posted. My conclusions on both and views are the same. Mulsims wanted a prayer room, the Vatican gave them one. This is why I asked Maria, "But I'm curious, if you see this as a promotion of Islam or not, since they're being accommodating." I never was under the impression it was for just any muslim off the street and pray, but was interested if people found it a promotion of Islam within the Vatican walls since they ARE supplying a room for them to pray to their false god in. Would they offer an alter to Krishna if a Hindu asked? I see no difference.

Edit: From the original article "Father Cardinali disclosed: “Some Muslim scholars have asked us for a room with a carpet for praying and we have given it to them.”"

As the article Michie posted stated, the Vatican didn't create the Muslim prayer room, the library did. The library is the most secular site in
Vatican City.

 

[Delvianna]

As the article Michie posted stated, the Vatican didn't create the Muslim prayer room, the library did. The library is the most secular site in
Vatican City.

Thank you for the clarification, so I guess what I don't understand is, why the difference matters. Since the entire place is controlled by the Vatican, wouldn't that be looked at as agreement? While it's a different section of the church, it's still apart of the church. Why the distinction?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Thank you for the clarification, so I guess what I don't understand is, why the difference matters. Since the entire place is controlled by the Vatican, wouldn't that be looked at as agreement? While it's a different section of the church, it's still apart of the church. Why the distinction?

The library is more independent from the Vatican itself. There is also, barber shops, bakeries and restaurants in Vatican City.
These businesses are independent but must still follow Catholic moral codes.

 

[chevyontheriver]

No, the Vatican is not opening a general prayer room for Muslims, though the Vatican Library has opened a prayer room specifically for its Muslim scholars. This prayer room is intended for scholarly use and reflects the Vatican's efforts to accommodate Muslim academics who visit for research, not to provide a public place of worship for all Muslims

The point is not that it is a 'general prayer room for Muslims'. Of course it isn't. Muslims in general can't just walk into the Vatican Library. Catholics in general can't walk into the Vatican library either. Admittance is based on academic credentials and an approved research plan. Anybody can get in with those. Even Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mormons, Baptists. But without those nobody gets in. So of course it is not a general prayer room for Muslims. It is a specific prayer room for Muslim researchers who have academic credentials and an approved research plan.

Would the Saudi royal family allow a Christian chapel in their Royal Library? Do they allow any Christian chapels in their country? Are we 'better than them' for allowing them a prayer room in the Vatican Library? Or do they see us as weaker than them for giving in to their demands? I've got no issue with Muslims or anyone praying whatever prayers they want in private in unsanctioned space in a Vatican facility although I would draw the line at animal sacrifices even if done in private. And draw the line at any sanctioned space for the worship of Allah or Pachamama or Vishnu or whatever. But then the Vatican doesn't follow my rules. They have some different drummer they hear.