Italian Bishop’s Call to Evangelize Muslims Wins Support From Converts’ Network
The St. Nicholas Tavelic Network backs his emphasis on charity and respect in proclaiming the Gospel to Muslims and the necessity of a visible Christian identity.
A missionary network of converts from Islam to the Catholic Church has warmly welcomed a pastoral letter by Bishop Antonio Suetta of Ventimiglia-San Remo, Italy, calling on his flock to evangelize Muslims.
The St. Nicholas Tavelic Network (TavNet), which provides pastoral care and support often to underground communities of converts, told the Register the bishop’s words had “greatly encouraged us,” adding that they agreed with the bishop that being silent about the faith “is not charity” and that a “clear and visible Christian identity is absolutely necessary to evangelize Muslims.”
Bishop Suetta called for evangelization of Muslims in a May 24 pastoral letter titled “There Is No Greater Love.” He said increasing numbers of Muslim migrants in the region had prompted unavoidable questions to be asked, such as what should be the Christian attitude towards them, and the need to balance respect for their faith with the need to proclaim the Gospel.
He has therefore decided to offer a “specific program of formation and occasions for encounter” in his diocese, committing itself to witnessing and proclaiming the Gospel “also to those Muslims who live in our own territory.”
“In this way we shall come to know better the faith and culture of Muslims, whom we meet every day,” Bishop Suetta said, adding: “We shall also learn, in a more conscious way, how to exercise our duty as baptized persons, which is a task of love and therefore of proclamation of Him who is the salvation of mankind.”
The presence of Muslim communities in traditionally Christian regions of the world has been on the rise in recent decades. Exact statistics for the growth of the Muslim population in historically Catholic Italy are unavailable, but approximate figures suggest it has doubled over the past two decades, from around 800,000 in 2006 to just over 1.5 million in 2023. Europe’s Muslim population has increased from 2% to 6% between 1950 and 2020 — 11 million to 45 million. In the United States, meanwhile, the number of Muslims has been rising steadily, from 1.5 million in 2000 to just under 4.5 million in 2026.
Bishop Suetta’s pastoral letter, subtitled “On charity and the proclamation of God’s love to the Muslims living in our territory,” coincides with the 800th anniversary this year of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who famously met the Sultan Al-Malik al-Kamil in Egypt in 1219. The bishop also noted last year’s 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s interreligious declaration Nostra Aetate.
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They should read Fulton Sheen’s 1950 book called The World’s First Love, on the power of Mary. One chapter on Mary and the Moslems claims that our evangelization of them would be successful if based on our unique Marian devotion. Fatima is a Moslems name, as Mohammed had a beloved daughter with that name. They get that reverence. In a real sense, the more devout Catholic we are, the world is attracted. And it is interesting the tale of how Catholic Portugal got the town name. Highly recommend the book. But also this chapter may be online thanks to commentary from Fr Walter Ciczek who wrote an essay noting the Marian conversion influence in history. After all: Guadalupe happened same era as the heresy of Protestantism. What Europe lost, Mexico gained.
This is the first I’ve heard of a modern Bishop calling for the evangelization of Muslims. How long before he is disciplined by his Bishops conference or Leo apologizes for him?
Nevertheless, good for him!