A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Pope Francis and al-Sisi: Wait, Why Does That Ring a Bell? Or Two, Even?

The Vatican, yesterday. Leaving aside how this will make Muslim Brotherhood heads explode, note that Pope Francis chose his name after Saint Francis of Assisi. Wait: Assisi?

Don't tell the Egyptian State media, or they'll see it as proof positive that he's chosen by God. And I'm not referring to the Pope here.

And don't forget, the original St Francis of Assisi actually met  with the Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, al-Malik al-Kamil, in 1219 during the Crusades.

Fra Angelico's version:

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