Catholic churches in Belgium have begun incorporating readings from the Quran into their liturgy

The administration of the Catholic University of Leuven and the Flemish bishops of the Roman Catholic Church have confirmed the inclusion of non-Christian prayers in the structure of the Catholic Mass. According to information published by on the Life Site News website, readings from the Quran in Arabic and Jewish blessings in Hebrew have become part of liturgical practice.

Representatives of the university parish explained that such initiatives, implemented over the past ten years, are intended to symbolize “peace and reconciliation among peoples and religious traditions.” Prayers from representatives of other faiths are included in the concluding part of the Mass—after the prayer of the Eucharist and before the final blessing. The process of selecting passages from the Quran is overseen by the student mosque and approved by a Catholic chaplain with expertise in Arabic studies.

The decision sparked widespread public reaction after a video appeared on social media showing a Muslim man reciting the Quran inside a Catholic church. Critics of this practice, including Catholic columnist David Berger, have expressed concern that turning the liturgical space into an “interfaith venue” undermines the university’s traditional Catholic identity.