Posted April 21, 2023

Dear Friends in the Muslim Faith Community,

On behalf of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia, I extend prayerful greetings as you celebrate Eid al-Fitr! May you be filled with peace and joy as you conclude Ramadan’s month long vigil of fasting, prayer, and works of mercy.

In 1985, Saint John Paul II spoke to a gathering of Muslim leaders in Belgium and said, “As Christians and Muslims, we encounter one another in faith in the one God, our Creator and guide, our just and merciful judge. We believe that God transcends our thoughts and our universe and that his loving presence accompanies us throughout each day.”

I echo those sentiments with deep respect as you mark this holy time on your calendar. May your lives give glory to the Almighty and bring serenity and joy to all those you encounter!

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D.
Archbishop of Philadelphia