Ireland: Bishop Leahy's statement marking beginning of Lent and Ramadan

Limerick Bishop Leahy is a member of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue

Source: Irish Catholic Media Office

Bishop Brendan Leahy, Bishop of Limerick and a member of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue writes:

This year, Christians and Muslims are marking Lent and Ramadan at the same time.

Through its message from the Vatican's department for Inter-religious Dialogue, the global Catholic Church expresses our solidarity with Muslims. The message invites us all to renew our gaze on God who is the Almighty, the Most Merciful, the only Just One.

Recently there has been an attack on a mosque in Limerick, and in 2025 both the Islamic Centre in Belfast, and a mosque in Portlaoise, were attacked. The Irish Muslim Council has expressed its alarm at the growing levels of anti-Muslim sentiment.

Noting how the start of the holy Christian season of Lent, and Ramadan, coincide this year, Bishop Brendan Leahy is inviting Catholics, "to make a special effort to express spiritual closeness to Muslim neighbours or colleagues at work. It can simply be by showing greater 'neighbourly spirit' to neighbours who are Muslim, sharing their joys and sorrows, and not just living side by side without interaction. It can be friendly greetings at the school gate while waiting for the children to come out from school or in the local playground while their children play. At a time of bereavement, for instance, it is good to offer condolences and help in any practical way possible. In the workplace, it might be that a Muslim coworker needs a quiet space and time for daily prayers 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. Pope Leo XIV speaks of peace coming about from the 'disarmament of heart, mind and life.' We can encourage each other in that and hold one another in prayer," Bishop Leahy said.

To access a new set of weekly prayer and reflection resources for Lent 2026, inspired by the Irish Synodal Pathway, please click Baptised and Sent.