[Greek Reporter] The Vatican Apostolic Library, located in Vatican City, has designated a prayer space for visiting Muslim scholars, marking a notable gesture of inclusivity at one of the world’s most important centers of religious and cultural scholarship.The move, confirmed by Vice Prefect Giacomo Cardinali, comes after several Muslim academics requested a quiet area for daily prayers during their research visits. In response, the library provided a room equipped with a prayer rug to meet their needs.
Cardinali told La Repubblica, an Italian daily, that the request was modest and easily fulfilled. He emphasized that the library serves a global academic community, and accommodating prayer was in line with its broader mission.
This development reflects a growing effort by the centuries-old institution to welcome scholars of all backgrounds.
A universal repository of knowledge
Founded in 1451 under Pope Nicholas V, the Vatican Library is widely regarded as the intellectual heart of the Catholic Church. It holds a vast collection of manuscripts and texts that span multiple faiths and cultures.