Easter Vigil - Vatican

Saturday's Easter Vigil is usually a time when the catechumens are welcomed into the Church. They are Baptized, Confirmed, and receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time.

It's a time of joy and celebration. The Mass is usually about 2 to 3 hours long. My wife entered the Church in this manner and I remember it well.

The Vatican held its Easter Vigil Mass as well and among the catechumens this year was a prominent Muslim journalist.

That would be cool to attend the Vigil Mass at the Vatican.

This morning on the way into work, the different news agencies were trying to make this joyous event into a political story. Stoking the fires between Islam and Christianity.

One reporter was describing the welcoming of the Muslim journalist into the faith as a “slap in the face of Islam”.

What????

B16 has been working hard to further relations with Muslim leaders. He’s held meetings with them this past month.

Here’s the story…

Zenit News:

The day Magdi Allam became a Catholic was a beautiful one, according to the Muslim journalist who was baptized by Benedict XVI at Saturday's Easter Vigil Mass.

Allam, who is originally from Egypt, was one of the seven people -- five women and two men -- the Pope baptized at St. Peter's Basilica.The Holy Father also administered the sacraments of the Eucharist and confirmation to the seven catechumens from five countries: Italy, Cameroon, China, the United States and Peru.Allam, deputy director of Corriere della Sera, one of Italy’s largest and oldest newspapers, has lived in Italy for almost 35 years.

Explaining what led the Pope to administer baptism to the journalist, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, “For the Catholic Church, every person who asks to receive baptism after a deep personal search, a completely free choice and adequate preparation, has the right to receive it.” MORE...

MSN side:

Muslim baptized by pope says life in danger