This is also from the example of the historic Francis of Assisi. I have no doubt that this Francis is consciously taking the lesson from that Francis.
In the 13th Century, the Crusades were underway and Christians and Muslims were in armed conflict over parts of the Holy Lands. Francis wanted to make pilgrimage there and went to meet the Muslim Sultan Malek al-Kamil of Egypt.
The Sultan was impressed with him and gave Francis a letter of safe passage so that he could travel wherever he liked. As with other situations the relationship between the two religions has been better and worse in the ages since. But much, perhaps most, of the better is a result of that meeting.
There was a PBS documentary about this a couple of years ago called something like The Sultan and the Saint. I need to check the PBS website and see if it’s online or on DVD.
This is also from the example of the historic Francis of Assisi. I have no doubt that this Francis is consciously taking the lesson from that Francis.
In the 13th Century, the Crusades were underway and Christians and Muslims were in armed conflict over parts of the Holy Lands. Francis wanted to make pilgrimage there and went to meet the Muslim Sultan Malek al-Kamil of Egypt.
The Sultan was impressed with him and gave Francis a letter of safe passage so that he could travel wherever he liked. As with other situations the relationship between the two religions has been better and worse in the ages since. But much, perhaps most, of the better is a result of that meeting.
There was a PBS documentary about this a couple of years ago called something like The Sultan and the Saint. I need to check the PBS website and see if it’s online or on DVD.