Vatican Creates Prayer Space for Muslim Scholars

The Vatican has responded to a request from Muslim scholars by establishing a dedicated prayer room within its historic library.

Father Giacomo Cardinali, Vice Prefect of the Vatican Library, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that the new space allows scholars to practice their faith on-site.

“Some Muslim scholars asked us for a room with a prayer rug, and we gave it to them,” Cardinali said.

Founded in 1475 by Pope Sixtus IV, the Vatican Library is one of the world’s oldest and most renowned, housing religious and historical texts from across the globe. Cardinali emphasized the library’s diverse collections, which include Arabic, Jewish, Ethiopian, and rare Chinese manuscripts. He also revealed that the library holds the oldest medieval Japanese archive outside Japan.

The library’s holdings now include approximately 80,000 manuscripts, 50,000 archival items, 100,000 engravings, prints, coins, and medals, as well as nearly two million printed books.

Cardinali added that the library receives unique requests from around the world through its online system. “Some of the most unusual requests come from America: a time machine, the Menorah from the Temple of Jerusalem, and even the Holy Grail,” he said.

While the Vatican is deeply respected worldwide, Cardinali noted that not everyone treats the institution with the same reverence.