In 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, Saint Francis of Assisi requested and received an audience with Al-Kamil Muhammad al-Malik, the Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt and Syria, in a move that underscored the saint’s commitment to peace and direct engagement with those holding differing faiths.
The meeting occurred amidst active military conflict. Sultan Al-Kamil had issued a decree offering a reward for the head of any Christian, even as Crusader forces, led by Pelagio Galvani, were attempting to capture the Egyptian port of Damietta with the intention of conquering Egypt, according to historical accounts.
Francis, accompanied by Brother Illuminato, traveled into the Muslim-held territory, seeking to preach the Gospel. This was not his first attempt to engage with the Islamic world; he had previously sought to share his faith in the Holy Land without success. The most detailed account of this encounter comes from Saint Bonaventure, written more than a century after the event, and intended to highlight the virtues of the founder of the Franciscan order.
According to Saint Bonaventure’s account, Francis was captured by the Sultan’s forces while attempting to cross their lines. He then requested an audience with Al-Kamil, which was granted. The Sultan, a nephew of Saladin, received Francis with courtesy, but the saint did not succeed in converting Al-Kamil to Christianity, nor did he achieve martyrdom.
The meeting is described by some as a failure in terms of direct conversion, but it established a precedent for Franciscan engagement in the region. The P. Juan Manuel Góngora, a Spanish priest, has noted the significance of the event, stating that Francis “put his life at risk” to preach to the Sultan and seek peace. This interaction, Góngora points out, is a key reason why Franciscans have been the custodians of the Holy Land for 800 years.
During the audience, Francis reportedly challenged the Sultan and his advisors to a “trial by fire,” proposing that he and a Muslim scholar walk through a fire, with the belief that the one favored by God would remain unharmed. While the details of the Sultan’s response to this challenge are not fully documented, the event demonstrates Francis’s willingness to demonstrate his faith in a dramatic fashion.
Prior to his journey to Egypt, Francis had been praying for peace in Acre. He had come to believe that demonstrating love and respect was a more effective path than military conquest, echoing the teachings of Jesus Christ, who preached love for one’s enemies and forgiveness. Francis himself had once aspired to a military career, but a spiritual experience led him to dedicate his life to serving God and promoting peace.
The historical record suggests that Al-Kamil was impressed by Francis’s humility and sincerity, even if he did not embrace the Christian faith. The encounter, while not resulting in immediate religious conversion, fostered a degree of mutual respect and understanding between the two men. The Franciscan order continues to maintain a presence in the region, working to promote interfaith dialogue and peace.
