Cardinal Ayuso Guixot, champion of Interfaith Dialogue, passes away
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, Spanish prelate and prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, died Monday, November 25, at the age of 72, following a long illness. In the morning, while addressing an international Jain delegation in the presence of members of the Dicastery, Pope Francis asked for prayers for the cardinal, saying: “He is very ill, near the end of his life.” .
By Salvatore Cernuzio
For years, Cardinal Ayuso Guixot has been a staunch advocate of interreligious dialogue, accompanying Pope Francis on almost all of his apostolic journeys. His in-depth knowledge of Islam and the Arab world made him an indispensable part of the Pope’s initiatives to strengthen relations with other faiths. These trips, often referred to as “pilgrimages of fraternity,” highlighted the cardinal’s dedication to fostering unity in regions where Catholicism is in the minority.
In 2019, he participated in historic visits to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, assuming leadership of the Dicastery shortly after being created a cardinal on October 5, 2019. He later joined the Pope Francis during the 2021 pilgrimage to Iraq. , a visit he called transformative for the war-torn nation. He also accompanied the Holy Father to Kazakhstan and Bahrain in 2022 and remained active in his mission until health problems overtook him.
A Deeply Rooted Faith and Global Mission
Born June 17, 1952, in Seville, Spain, Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot grew up in a devout Catholic family, the fifth of nine siblings. Seville’s unique blend of Christian and Islamic heritage deeply influenced its sensitivity to interfaith understanding. Initially pursuing law studies, he felt a vocational calling and joined the Comboni Missionaries in 1973. Ordained priest in 1980, he pursued advanced studies in Rome, specializing in Islamic studies.
His mission journey began in Cairo, Egypt, serving the Latin community and helping Sudanese Catholic youth. That path eventually led him to war-torn Sudan, then to academic leadership as president of the Pontifical Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies (PISAI). His expertise earned him the role of consultant to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 2007. Elevated prefect in 2019, Cardinal Ayuso Guixot has become a central figure in the Church’s efforts to promote dialogue with Muslims, Hindus , Buddhists and other religious communities. global.
A legacy of fraternity
Cardinal Ayuso Guixot embodied Pope Francis’ vision of fraternity as described in the encyclical “Fratelli Tutti.” Through his tireless dedication to dialogue, he has demonstrated that peaceful coexistence among diverse faiths is both possible and necessary. His death marks the loss of a visionary leader who brought the spirit of unity to the world stage.
