In this last week since the papal election, what I have loved most is seeing how much hope Pope Francis has brought to so many. In the past few years I have been very concerned by the conversation the Catholic Church has had (or not had) with other religions. I feel that Pope Francis is someone who will work to promote important inter-religious dialogue.
Following shortly after the election, I saw a blog post from a friend who I had the honor of working with a few years back - Imam Yahya Hendi. Imam Hendi is the first full-time Muslim Chaplain to be hired by a university (that university being Georgetown). He was the Muslim Chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda for 22 years until he retired in 2011. He has traveled the world, expressing the need for interfaith dialogue. What really impressed me about Imam Hendi when I first met him was his sincere kindness towards everyone. I was very blessed in working for an office with five chaplains: an Imam, a Protestant Reverend, a Jewish Chaplain, a Catholic priest, and a nun. I have had many excellent employers in my past, but none fostered an environment so full of camaraderie, cooperation and genuine respect for their coworkers. As I saw these chaplains interact together, making the world's best puns and passionately planning out the office's next inter-religious activity, I was struck with the realization that perhaps inter-religious cooperation and positive global change are not such pipe dreams.
I wanted to share this facebook post here in the hope that others will see that such cooperation is already taking place. I am deeply grateful to Imam Hendi for allowing me to post his message:
"My catholic sisters and brothers,
As-Salamu ‘Alaikum,
Let me take this moment to congratulate you and the world, including that of Islam for Pope Francis. It is a great moment in our history and I am sure the future is full of hope.
Watching him talking and praying as he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, I was deeply touched by his self-effacing humility that our religions value highly. I was also profoundly moved by his great simplicity, amazing smile, telling a joke, and asking people to pray for him, all of which, spoke of his sense of hope, peacefulness and of deep-rooted faith in the Living God.
His remarkable choice of the name Francis, evoking the saint of Assisi and his commitment to the poor, is just an incredible message of hope for the faithful and those who believe that our religions main fight is that of social justice and to give a voice for the voiceless.
His selection as the Pope emerging from a Jesuit background is with no doubt, at least in my mind, an affirmation of the Church’s transformation and its commitment to catering for the soul and the mind of the whole person with interest in interfaith dialogue and peace building with other religions and nations. I pray for more dialogue between Muslims and Catholics, a dialogue that will help build more bridges and better relations.
Let me be honest and say that I love him more for the fact that he is known for his love of animals, including birds, and for asking people to pray for him.
May God bless those led by the Holy father, Georgetown University and the world at large.
My best prayers.
Imam Yahya Hendi"
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