Islamic prayer chanted at Catholic university Mass attended by archbishop

An Islamic passage from the Quran was chanted in Arabic at the opening Mass of a university in Belgium.

A young man chanted a passage from Surah Ash-Shu’ara (The Poets), which reads, “And relate to them the story of Abraham, when he asked his father and his people, ‘What do you worship?’” as shown in a video posted to Facebook.

The Islamic prayers were part of “interreligious dialogue” at KU Leuven, a Catholic university in the city of Leuven, Belgium. KU Leuven reportedly planned to have a Jewish religious text recited as well, “but this was dropped at the last moment,” AdVaticanum reported. “Readings from Anglicans and Protestants” were also reportedly said during Mass, which was attended by Archbishop Luc Terlinden.

KVHV-Leuven, a student organization at the university, told AdVaticanum that it is not the first time that Islamic prayers have been recited at Mass there.

“Last year, Islamic prayers were also chanted during this Mass as part of ‘interreligious dialogue’. This year, it was the same but now our cameras were at the ready,” the group said. ---More...

Islamic prayer included in opening Mass at Catholic University

The line has been crossed. pic.twitter.com/yEKSg4qFDa

— Sign of the Cross (@CatholicSOTC)September 21, 2026