A room has been set aside within the Vatican Apostolic Library for visiting Islamic scholars to pray, according to recent reports. This space is located within the boundaries of Vatican City State and is not inside any sacred Catholic site such as St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Vatican Library houses some of the oldest copies of the Qur’an and other important historical documents related to Islam. Scholars from various backgrounds, including Orthodox Christian, Protestant, and secular historians, visit the library to study these materials.

The decision to provide a prayer room is linked to the presence of these significant Islamic texts in the library. It is intended as a courtesy for scholars who come to research Islamic manuscripts held by the Vatican.

In response to concerns that this arrangement might conflict with Catholic beliefs, it was clarified that “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for God and that Arab Catholics also use this term when praying in Arabic. The statement added: “Now, let’s not be mistaken— the Catholic Church contains the fullness of Truth. I am in no way shape or form trying to defend the teachings of Islam. But the fact that Islam is in error does not (in my opinion) disqualify an Islamic scholar from having a room in a library within the Vatican City State where they can pray to God. To me that’s just common courtesy.”

The clarification also emphasized distinctions between secular spaces within Vatican City State and its sacred sites, noting that areas like post offices or libraries serve practical purposes rather than religious ones.