Pope Francis’ election made history.  All eyes were on the smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney where cardinals gathered to elect the Pope. It was an important election as some, such as Cardinal McCarrick were concerned about the growing threats to religious freedom and harassment of Christians around the world. There was another smoke that did not catch much attention from the American media. Just days before the election of the new Pope, a violent Muslim mob burned homes and buildings in a Christian colony in Lahore, Pakistan. Why? Because of a Christian man’s alleged blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam.

As an American Muslim of Pakistani origin I feel a connection to both these events.

As a Muslim I am fascinated by the new Pope’s name: Francis. The name symbolizes humility and simplicity though I admire Francis for another reason as well.

In 1219 A.D., after the fifth crusade, in a period of truce and peace negotiations between the Christians and Muslims, St. Francis of Assisi collaborated with the Sultan of Egypt, Malik al-Kamil. In Saint Francis and the Sultan, John Tolan writes, “If the crusades lend themselves to the paradigm of the ‘clash of civilizations’, the peaceful encounter of Francis and al-Kamil offers, on the contrary, a gleam of hope.” New York Times writer, Thomas Cahill wrote in The Peaceful Crusader, “We stand in desperate need of contemporary figures like Kamil and Francis of Assisi to create an innovative dialogue.”

The Christian world has put forth its Francis but where is the Kamil from the Muslim world?  As an American of Pakistani origin I sympathize with the Christian community in Pakistan.

During the 1980s military General Zia enacted harsh clauses to Pakistan’s already harsh blasphemy law in an effort to further “Islamicise” the nation. Nearly 1000 cases of blasphemy have been lodged since 1988. In 2010 a private bill was introduced to amend the blasphemy law but was withdrawn in 2011 under pressure from religious groups.

Instead, two prominent leaders in Pakistan were assassinated in 2011 for speaking out against these laws.

This recent incident of burning 178 Christian homes in Pakistan is not unique. In 2011, a mob attacked a Christian community in Gujranwala. In 2009, a church in Gojra was set ablaze. Six Christians, including a child, lost their lives.

Pakistan is not alone in violating the right of minorities. Pew Research Center’s forum on Religion and Public Life recently published a report on religious hostility and government laws that restrict religious beliefs or practices around the world. Many Muslim countries are on that list.  No wonder why Cardinal McCarrick is concerned.

History is witness to the prolonged, peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Jews, and Christians. In the same book, Saint Francis and the Sultan, John Tolan affirms that Christian and Jews under the Muslim government were “free to practice their religion, to use their synagogues, churches and monasteries.”

The spirit of this religious freedom stems from the “covenant” Prophet Muhammad took from Muslims in a letter to the monks of St. Catharine Monastery. Muhammad declared that there would be no compulsion on Christians “near and far”, and that all churches would be respected.

Muslims need a spiritual leader today. A leader who would stand up for the rights of non-Muslims living in Muslim majority countries, keep the matters of individual belief separate from government, and be the voice of over a billion Muslims.

The only spiritual leader today who fits this description is His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifa of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Ahmad proclaims the simple message of, “Love for All, Hatred for None.” His own community is persecuted in Pakistan under the same blasphemy laws through which Christians suffer, but he enjoins patience and forbearance to his followers. He responds to hatred and oppression by love and peace.

Muslims need a Kamil to resurrect the gleam of hope. Ahmad is their Kamil, only if they recognize.