“Jesuits Among Muslims” and “Young Jesuits in Islamic Studies” met in Lebanon.

The group of "Jesuits Among Muslims" (JAM) brings together, from five continents, about sixty Companions who have received a mission among Muslims and have the desire to reflect and share their experience together. Working in different sectors they currently meet every two years to reflect together on their experience and the dynamics at work today among Muslims. This month of July, twenty-eight of them met in Lebanon, with the general theme: "Arab Islam in the Middle East and in the World: New Configurations". This time, this JAM meeting was preceded by another one that brought together the youngest among us for two days, twelve "Young Jesuits in Islamic studies" (YJIS).

The JAM meeting started with a focus on two dynamics that have affected the region and the Muslim world globally: the division between Sunnis and Shiites which seems to transform itself into a cold war and the evolution of Islam in Saudi Arabia which is slowly opening itself to a dialoguing approach. Then we continued with Egypt, where 2014 was a pivotal year as the Cheikh of al-Azhar dared to say: “IS is our problem”, encouraging a search for remedies against extremism.

We explored as well what was happening in the Maghreb region and in the Holy Land, but we focused obviously on Lebanon where for a full day we talked with the Companions in charge of several institutions in Beirut. Beyond the remarkable activities they shared with us, it was their personal itineraries that touched us the most during this day. By simply sharing with us their personal life stories, they allowed us to deeply understand how the events of recent years in their region have profoundly transformed their hearts, opening them to a deep desire to encounter “the other”, not as a threat but as a promise for the future.

Then we went all around the world, hearing companions speaking about Islam in their region and the challenges they meet, or offering a reflection on such things as the Abu Dhabi document signed in February 2019 by Pope Francis and the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, "on human brotherhood for world peace and common coexistence" or on a book that has marked the field of Islamic studies in recent years such as Shahab Ahmed, What is Islam?

In conclusion, we heard a summary of the YJIS meeting where, in their sharings, the young Jesuits had insisted on the importance of relationships: first of all, with the Muslims, a major source of consolation for them; with God who called them to a ministry of reconciliation; among themselves; with Companions who unfortunately do not always understand their call; with those who have been a source of inspiration for them; and with “mentors” they wish to find to help them see more clearly where to go.

Then we finished our meeting with a time of evaluation where four calls were heard: (1) giving attention to the formation of young Jesuit as all should receive an introduction about how to engage with Muslims and Islam; (2) promoting a positive engagement with Muslims in the Society and in the Church, inviting to critical thinking; (3) collaborating with others in this ministry (a Dominican from IDEO was present in our meeting); (4) need for a promoter of our engagement with Muslims, who would coordinate it  and be the editor of a website dedicated to this engagement, making it visible, in the Spirit of Pope Francis.