The calls of Msgr. Antonio Suetta to evangelize Muslims living in Europe continue to generate positive reactions among those who know that reality best: converts from Islam to Catholicism. An international network of former Muslims has publicly expressed its support for the recent pastoral letter of the Bishop of Ventimiglia-San Remo, arguing that proclaiming Christ to Muslims is not a lack of respect, but a genuine work of charity.
Msgr. Suetta published a pastoral letter in which he encouraged Catholics not to hide their faith and to take on the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel to Muslim immigrants present in Europe. Now, according to the National Catholic Register, the St. Nicholas Tavelić Network (TavNet), made up mainly of converts from Islam, has enthusiastically welcomed the Italian prelate’s words.
“The mission is at the doors of our homes”
Numair R., TavNet’s coordinator in the United Kingdom, believes many Catholics still think that evangelizing Muslims is a task reserved for missionaries working in Islamic countries. However, the current reality is very different.
“The mission is right here, at the doors of our homes,” he stated, noting that the growing presence of Muslim communities in Europe offers an unprecedented opportunity for the proclamation of the Gospel.
The TavNet representative especially valued Msgr. Suetta’s insistence on combining respect for individuals with clarity in presenting the Catholic faith. He explained that deliberately concealing one’s own faith out of fear of offending does not help anyone and deprives many people of knowing the truth of Christianity.
The importance of a visible Christian identity
One of the points that has received the most support among converts is the assertion that a strong and recognizable Christian identity is indispensable for any evangelizing work.
Numair explained that many Muslims arrive in the West convinced that moral decay, relativism, and the loss of values are direct consequences of Christianity. Only when they encounter Catholics who live their faith with coherence do they discover that contemporary secularization represents precisely a departure from Christian roots.
The TavNet coordinator himself stated that this realization played an important role in his personal journey toward the Catholic Church.
Converts call for clarity and formation
Joseph L., the organization’s coordinator in France, also spoke, highlighting that the experience of accompanying former Muslims shows the need to provide solid doctrinal formation and an authentic sacramental life.
He explained that those who leave Islam to embrace the Catholic faith need much more than ambiguous speeches or symbolic gestures. They need rigorous catechesis, spiritual accompaniment, and a Catholic community capable of welcoming and sustaining them.
In this regard, he fully agreed with Msgr. Suetta that evangelization must always be carried out with respect for the freedom of the person, but without falling into silence or renouncing the explicit proclamation of Jesus Christ.
Support they hope to see extended to other bishops
TavNet members believe that the initiative promoted by the Italian bishop could serve as an example for other European dioceses facing similar challenges.
For the converts, the growth of Muslim communities in Europe should not be viewed solely as a social or political phenomenon, but also as a providential opportunity for Catholics to recover an awareness of their missionary vocation and to proclaim the faith in Jesus Christ without hesitation.