Ireland: Bishop Leahy calls for solidarity as Lent and Ramadan coincide

LIMERICK (MNTV) — The Bishop of Limerick has urged Christians to show “spiritual closeness” to Muslim neighbors as Lent and Ramadan begin at the same time this year.

In a statement released through the Irish Catholic Media Office, Brendan Leahy highlighted the rare overlap of the Christian season of Lent and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, calling it an opportunity for deeper interfaith solidarity.

Leahy, who is also a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, referenced a message from the Holy See encouraging Catholics to renew their focus on God and to stand in solidarity with Muslims during Ramadan.

His remarks come amid concerns over rising anti-Muslim sentiment in Ireland. Leahy pointed to recent attacks on a mosque in Limerick, as well as incidents in 2025 targeting the Islamic Centre in Belfast and a mosque in Portlaoise. 

The Irish Muslim Council has expressed alarm over what it describes as growing hostility toward Muslims.

Against this backdrop, the bishop encouraged Catholics to make a “special effort” to foster good relations with Muslim neighbors and colleagues. 

Practical gestures, he said, could include friendly greetings at school gates or playgrounds, offering condolences during times of bereavement, or accommodating Muslim coworkers who may need quiet space for prayer during Ramadan.

“The fact that this year we are sharing in common a sacred time of prayer, fasting and concrete acts of goodness is a reminder that we all want to let ourselves be transformed so that we can do our part to restore peace to our broken world,” Leahy said.

Quoting Pope Leo XIV, he added that peace comes through the “disarmament of heart, mind and life,” urging believers of both faiths to encourage one another and keep each other in prayer during their respective holy seasons.