Illustration:The Great Mosque of Touba, is one of the largest mosques in Senegal.
Pope Leo’s address to leaders of the Muslim Community of Senegal
alongside the representatives of the Catholic Church in that same country
Saturday, 9 May 2026
Your Excellencies,
Dear brothers and sisters,
Peace be with you!
I am delighted to welcome the representatives of the Muslim brotherhoods and communities of Senegal, as well as the representatives of the Catholic Church in Senegal.
This meeting is a significant expression of our friendship and our shared commitment to promoting an inclusive, peaceful and fraternal society.
You come from Senegal, the land of “teranga” – ‘hospitality and solidarity’ – where family ties are strong, people enjoy each other’s company, and Christians, Muslims, and followers of other traditions live in peace.
This reality forms the foundation of dialogue between peoples of different religious affiliations and ethnic origins.
This treasure of fraternity must be carefully safeguarded and is a precious asset not only for your nation but also for all of humanity.
Unfortunately, armed conflicts persist in Africa, causing serious humanitarian crises and deep-seated inequalities that affect entire populations daily.
Not to mention, violent extremism is on the rise.
Growing flows of migrants and refugees, hate speech that poisons the social fabric, weakening family ties, and the erosion of ethical and spiritual values — particularly among the young — add to this.
In this context, the values embodied by the spirit of “teranga” and interreligious dialogue are valuable tools for easing tensions and building lasting peace.
Through interreligious dialogue and the involvement of religious leaders in mediation and reconciliation initiatives, politics and diplomacy can leverage moral forces to ease tensions, prevent extremism, and promote a culture of mutual respect and esteem.
The world greatly needs diplomacy and religious dialogue based on peace, justice, and truth today.
As both Christians and Muslims, we believe that every human being is created by God and endowed with dignity that no law or human power can take away (Gen. 1:27).
The nations of the world have also proclaimed: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
On this foundation of brotherhood, rooted in the origins of humanity and faith, we assume our shared responsibility to condemn all forms of discrimination and persecution based on race, religion, or origin. We reject the exploitation of God’s name for military, economic, or political ends and raise our voices in support of every minority that suffers.
As I said in Bamenda, Cameroon, “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
May God Almighty rekindle our desire to understand one another, listen to one another, and live together with respect and fraternity.
May He grant us the courage to take the path of dialogue and respond to conflicts with gestures of fraternity. May He open our hearts to others without fear of differences.
Finally, may your commitment to peace, justice, and fraternity bear abundant fruit and lead to ever-deeper cooperation among all parties for the good of humanity.
Thank you!
