The brave and upstanding Bishop Marian Eleganti’s DEI opponents will surely describe him as “Islamophobic.” He is knowledgeable of Islamic history and Islamic texts, as well as the emotional (as opposed to disciplined, spiritual, and sensible) character of the Church under the current leadership. Pope Francis, who stood for just about anything for which the left stood, paved the way for this.
Don’t hold your breath waiting to see how many Islamic countries — particularly those in which the principal Islamic holy sites are located — will allow a special prayer room for Christians with icons included. With Islam, dialogue is a one-way street.
“Bishop Eleganti condemns Vatican decision to provide Muslim prayer space,” The Catholic Herald, October 29, 2025:
Bishop Marian Eleganti has publicly criticised the Vatican’s decision to provide a prayer carpet for Muslim scholars within the Vatican Apostolic Library.
In an interview with the publication LifeSiteNews, Bishop Eleganti said, “Islam is naturally expansive. As soon as a Muslim prays there, somehow in the minds of the faithful … I wouldn’t be surprised if it then becomes a kind of rooting and foothold, an outpost of the coming dominance that Islam naturally always strives for.”
He went on to assert that “Islam wants absolute dominance; it is inherently intolerant,” adding that “it has caused Christianity to disappear everywhere.”
The controversy emerged after the Library’s vice-prefect, Fr Giacomo Cardinali, confirmed that a small room laid with a carpet had been made available to Muslim scholars at their request. “Of course, some Muslim scholars have asked us for a room with a carpet for praying and we have given it to them,” Fr Cardinali told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
The Library, one of the Church’s principal repositories of manuscripts, houses ancient Qur’ans alongside Hebrew, Arabic, and Chinese works, and Fr Cardinali emphasised the institution’s self-understanding as a “universal library.”
Bishop Eleganti responded with sharp criticism, questioning the wisdom of locating Muslim prayer within the heart of Vatican scholarship. He noted the incongruity of permitting such a facility inside the Vatican while Christians would “never allow us to set up a chapel in Mecca, the holy site of Islam itself, where we could celebrate Holy Mass.”
He warned that the gesture portrays “a purely emotional religion: we are friendly, we are open, we are tolerant, we have a welcoming culture, we are open to dialogue, etc.” In his view, “it’s a kind of emotional religion that no longer takes the truth and difference seriously, because there is only unity in truth. Everything else is an illusion.”…
ploome says
the author writes:
” ..He noted the incongruity of permitting such a facility inside the Vatican.
while Christians would “never allow us to set up a chapel in Mecca,
the holy site of Islam itself, where we could celebrate Holy Mass.” ”
……..shouldn’t that be
while MUSLIMS would never allow….??
somehistory says
I believe it was a typo….perhaps leaving out *be* allowed….
abu taleb says
You overestimate Islam. Christians are not only forbiden to set up a chappel in Mecca, but also in the whole area of Saudi Arabia. Christians are not allowed to have Bible or wear any attire symbolizing Christianity..
John1 says
Non Muslims are BANNED from setting foot in the city of Mecca, let alone brandishing the thought of building a church there.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6_i3hcucTP/
GE says
A priest from the local Roman Catholic Church where I live ministered to the hidden Christians in Saudi Arabia. Of course he could never set foot out in clerical garb, and a woman was there to pose as his wife. He made several trips there. He was a very brave man, and now has his reward in heaven. I talked to him about it once. He could have been killed if caught.
somehistory says
GE,
I’m sorry you lost your friend. Jesus said, “Those in the memorial tombs (those remembered by Him) will hear His voice, and come out.”
There is a great reward in serving our Mighty God.
GE says
Hi somehistory, He was a Franciscan priest and imho they are the ones that are really committed to helping the poor. Didn’t go in for a lot of pomp and fluff. His homilies were right to the point and not laced with a it of excess verbiage. We used to say he put the hay down where the goats could get at it.
gravenimage says
What a brave man, GreekEmpress! Sorry he has passed away, but glad he is with God.
OLD GUY says
According to what I recently read, one Islamic prayers are offered that site becomes an Islamic holy site. So does that mean that the Vatican is now both a Catholic and Islamic holy site?
40 rounds says
Is that like when a dog pisses on a fire hydrant, that sort of thing?
gravenimage says
Yep–the Vatical is now a Mosque, as Muslims see it.
somehistory says
The man is right. Bold to say it, knowing what the pope has said. Telling the Truth about islime is not popular with his former boss, and the present one.
He has said some things that have needed to be said for a very long time.
Jekabzeel says
Thank you, somehistory, for your exposition of John 5:28. I had not seen that aspect of it before. Which version are you quoting?
somehistory says
Thank you, Jekabzeel .
I didn’t look up the Scripture. I just quoted by my memory on the account of Jesus’s promise of the Resurrection which is to come.
I have a couple of Bibles. One is a Spanish KG and one is the NWT.
When I can’t recall exact words (and want to), I just put in a few words which I can recall, and search online…since Bible print is so tiny and difficult sometimes to read. I go to BibleHub, Gateway or another of the online services.
I didn’t look it up this time.
So my quote above, is just by my memory of the NWT
Hoi Polloi says
Let’s hope more will say it and that leads to a reversal of this very poor decision.
I AM THE INFIDEL YOUR ALLAH WARNED YOU ABOUT says
More Bishops should step forward and condemn the pope’s decision. This pope is just as bad as the last one – a muslim arse licker.
If anyone thinks that Islam is a peaceful religion better think again.
ISLAN IS A SATANIC, EVIL, PERVERTED, VIOLENT AND MURDEROUS CULT PRETENDING TO BE A RELIGION.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I wonder how much of a civil war there is within the Roman Catholic church on all this islam-pandering? Will it cause a schism similar to that of the Reformation?
Tim gallagher says
This bishop definitely knows Islam well just as other Christian leaders, including popes centuries ago, knew Islam to be a rotten, evil, hate filled,, intolerant load of filth as for given evil Muslims a prayer place, do they also provide one for the mafia, the Nazis because Islam is as evil as those scum. This bishop is probably trying to wake the idiot of a pope up.
Hoi Polloi says
And I hope he does wake them. In addition to everything mentioned here, it’s my stance that people who serve a pedo and a book that calls for my slaughter will not be enabled in any way by me, and certainly will not be granted a space to pray for this evil to be visited upon Christians.
Tim gallagher says
It is sickening, hoi polloi, the way totally evil and barbaric islam has so many people fooled. I’m with you. I loathe Islam and would never support it in any way. I hope this bishop gets through to plenty of people.
Tim gallagher says
I want to add that this bishop nails the trouble with many Christians, including recent popes, when he talks about purely emotional religion and just being endlessly nice even to the Muslim enemy. Ope to dialogue,etc. he is saying, wake up, get your brain into gear as well. Christian religions no longer taking the truth seriously. He is trying to wake people. If you are a Christian then Islam is the opposite and is your enemy. Only unity in truth. Christianity is the truth he is saying. Islam has nothing in common with Islam, no unity possible at all.
Tim gallagher says
I meant to say that islam has nothing in common with Christianity.
MK says
Christians must wake up. Anyone who wants to accommodate Muslims must be excommunicated.
James Lincoln says
Bishop Marian Eleganti – I like him!
What is left of the “free Western world” needs a Pope that has the same degree of insight into islam…
Tim gallagher says
Yes, I’m impressed by this bishop too, James. There must be plenty of catholic clergy like him who see Islam clearly. Surely Hungarian and polish clergy must see Islam’s malevolent nature clearly since those countries have right attitudes to islam
James Lincoln says
Yes, Tim.
There are plenty of Catholic clergy who see islam clearly – some whom I know personally.
But many are reluctant to talk about this publicly.
Tim gallagher says
I’m glad you do know some clergy who see Islam clearly, James. The catholic church that I have been going to does seem fairly left leaning but good people and I enjoy singing along with choir. It’s a good place but I suspect the priest there would still be asleep to Islam’s nature.
Chess says
THANK GOD SOMEONE HAS COURAGE.
Andrew Blackadder says
Centuries ago the Vatican built a massive Wall around themselves to protect and defend themselves from islamic warriors and now they invite them to pray within those very same Walls…
muslimes are now able to Case The Joint for a future move as they have always stated.. First we conquer Istanbul and then we conquer Rome..
Just as Spain kicked them all out after being conquered by muslimes for 500 years and now the current Spanish Government invites them in.
Just as Germans today are ashamed of the 12 awful years 80 plus years ago in their country but now welcome millions of young men that adore Adolf Hitler.. This cant end well…
Kuffar says
Why not allow the muzzie scum to rape nuns on the altar of St Peters. That’s next you know.
gravenimage says
This is what Muslims reportedly did in Hagia Sophia after the conquest of Constantinople.
Walter Sieruk says
That Bishop is right when he said that “Islam is naturally expansive ” for it even expanded into the Vatican Library , with an Islam prayer space and an Islamic prayer carpet in it .
One of the reasons for this appeasement to those imams and mullahs might probably be that all the higher up Roman Catholic clerics of the Roman Catholic Church are afraid of the deadly and destructive power of Islam . Therefore , in an action of appeasement a special place for Islam is provided.
Those Roman Catholic clerics in high positions in their church would never be so honest and to come right out and admit that is the reason why they did such a odd thing.
Nevertheless , those Muslim will only view this action of appeasement as sign weakness . After all, the Muslim clears would never allow a small Roman chapel to be constructed in the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem much less in Mecca,.
Thomas Hulting says
“Islam wants absolute dominance; it is inherently intolerant,” adding that “it has caused Christianity to disappear everywhere.” YET, Poop Leo advocates Muslim “Prayer Rooms” within Christian CHURCHES!!!
Thomas Hulting says
“Islam wants absolute dominance; it is inherently intolerant,” adding that “it has caused Christianity to disappear everywhere.” YET, Poop Leo advocates Muslim “Prayer Rooms” within Christian CHURCHES!!!
Thomas Hulting says
“Islam wants absolute dominance; it is inherently intolerant,” adding that “it has caused Christianity to disappear everywhere.” YET, Poop Leo advocates Muslim “Prayer Rooms” within Christian CHURCHES!!!
Winston 101 says
Fr. Cardinali’s response to the Muslim scholar’s request for a prayer rug
should have been as follows:
“As to your prayer rug request:
Your request can be granted just as soon as Christians can safely ,publicly, pray in Muslim countries.
Arrange that, and get back to me , so we can accommodate your request.”
Winston 101 says
By the way. Bishop Eleganti is located in Aukland, New Zealand, not the Vatican.
I looked it up since neither this article nor the source article gives his assigned location.
From his name one might think he’s in Italy, maybe at the Vatican.
So it’s not like the pope is getting pushback in his own location.
gravenimage says
Thanks for that information, Winston.
gravenimage says
Bishop condemns Vatican decision to provide Muslim prayer space, saying ‘Islam is naturally expansive’
…………………………………………………………
Good for Bishop Marian Eleganti!