Pope's baptism of Muslim journalist queried by Islamic leaders

Luigi Sandri
Rome (ENI). Pope Benedict XVI's baptism of an Egyptian-born Muslim Italian journalist, known for being a strident critic of restrictions of religious freedom in Islamic countries, has been questioned by Muslim leaders in Italy.

Magdi Allam, a columnist and deputy editor of the Milan-based Corriere della Sera newspaper, was one of seven people from five countries baptised by the pontiff at the Easter Vigil Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on 22 March.

"What shocked me is the high profile the Vatican gave to the conversion," said Yaha Sergio Pallavicini, vice president of the Religious Islamic community, one of Italy's Muslim groups. He questioned why Allam had not been baptised in Viterbo, the city 100 kilometres north of Rome where the Egyptian-born journalist lives. [read more]

h/t: Pope Benedict XVI News