"The Saint and the Sultan: The Crusades, Islam, and Francis of Assisi's Mission of Peace," by Paul Moses.
Book Description (Courtesy of Amazon.com):
An intriguing examination of the extraordinary–and little known meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Islamic leader Sultan Malik Al-Kamil that has strong resonance in today's divided world.For many of us, St. Francis of Assisi is known as a poor monk and a lover of animals. However, these images are sadly incomplete, because they ignore an equally important and more challenging aspect of his life -- his unwavering commitment to seeking peace. In The Saint and the Sultan, Paul Moses recovers Francis' s message of peace through the largely forgotten story of his daring mission to end the crusades.In 1219, as the Fifth Crusade was being fought, Francis crossed enemy lines to gain an audience with Malik al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt. The two talked of war and peace and faith and when Francis returned home, he proposed that his Order of the Friars Minor live peaceably among the followers of Islam–a revolutionary call at a moment when Christendom pinned its hopes for converting Muslims on the battlefield.The Saint and the Sultan captures the lives of St. Francis and Sultan al-Kamil and illuminates the political intrigue and religious fervor of their time. In the process, it reveals a startlingly timely story of interfaith conflict, war, and the search for peace. More than simply a dramatic adventure, though it does not lack for colorful saints and sinners, loyalty and betrayal, and thrilling Crusade narrative, The Saint and the Sultan brings to life an episode of deep relevance for all who seek to find peace between the West and the Islamic world.Winner of the 2010 Catholic Press Association Book Award for History
Video Title: Paul Moses, The Saint and the Sultan. YouTube Video Description - [Channel: IDI Nationwide. Published on Mar 13, 2013]:
The Saint and the Sultan:An excerpt from the article, "European Muslims see dialogue hope in pope name," by Tom Heneghan:
Religion, Conflict and the Search for Peace
In The Saint and the Sultan: The Crusades, Islam and Francis of Assisi's Mission of Peace, Paul Moses writes of the meeting of St. Francis of Assisi with Egypt's Sultan Malik al-Kamil. Moses will speak about this peaceful encounter and its relevance for Christian-Muslim relations today.
Paul Moses is professor of journalism at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. His book, The Saint and the Sultan: The Crusades, Islam and Francis of Assisi's Mission of Peace (Doubleday, 2009), won the 2010 Catholic Press Association award for best history book.
Saturday, March 9, 2013, 7PM
Noor Cultural Centre
123 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON
Muslims in Europe see hope for better relations with Roman Catholicism after the new pope took the name Francis, recalling the 13th-century saint known for his efforts to launch Christian dialogue with Islam.Paul Moses, The Saint and the Sultan: Religion, Conflict and the Search for Peace
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio chose the name after his election on Wednesday in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, who is revered for his radical poverty and humility. Francis met the sultan of Egypt in 1219 on a peace mission during the Fifth Crusade.St. Francis crossed enemy lines unarmed to meet Sultan Malik al-Kamil and discuss war, peace and faith. He spent several days with the Muslim ruler, unsuccessfully trying to convert him, and was then returned safely to the Crusader side.Muslim leaders in Italy, France and Germany, where St. Francis and his Franciscan order of brown-robed friars are well known, struck an upbeat tone."As Muslims of the West, we take as a particularly hopeful sign the reminder, in the name of the new pontiff, of the great example of sanctity and opening to the East and to Islam that St. Francis of Assisi gave," the Italian Islamic Religious Community (COREIS) said in a statement.
