A vocal Catholic faithful, Mother Miriam, has voiced her opposition to the decision by Pope Leo XIV to open a prayer room for Muslims at the Vatican Library.

Her words, “The Pope has given Muslims a prayer room in the Vatican library. Why would you allow SATAN in the Vatican library? That’s INSANE!”

The decision by the Pope has drawn reactions from diverse Christian communities across the world. While some, like Mother Miriam, argue that the Vatican Library has always opened its doors to scholars of different faiths who visit to conduct research, others say opening a room for Muslims to hold their prayers is going too far.

The latter’s argument centres on the fact that Christians are never accorded such privilege in any Islamic facilities owned by Muslims, arguing that such gestures which are motivated by the desire for unity could backfire on the system.

Pope Leo has been advocating bringing people of all faiths together, a message he took with him during his recent to Africa. Speaking to the CNN during his flight from Algeria to Cameroon, the Pope said his visit to “the Great Mosque of Algiers, the largest in Africa, indicated that though “we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace.”

He added: “I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today.”

But not everyone, even in the Catholic community, is buying the Pope’s argument, especially in the face of the lack of tolerance of Christian practices exhibited by Muslims in many parts of the world, especially in Islamic dominated regions, a development that formed the basis of Mother Miriam’s outrage.

Who Is Mother Miriam?

Formerly known as Rosalind Moss, Mother Miriam is a Jewish convert from Evangelical Protestantism, whose main focus is on orthodox Catholic teaching.

She was born Jewish in Brooklyn, New York, and spent 15 years as a corporate executive. Thereafter, she spent 18 years in Evangelical ministry before entering the Catholic Church in 1995.

She is a prominent speaker and founder of the Catholic organization, Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.

Mother Miriam offers guidance on family and faith, and known to often share her conversion story on a live radio show and social media, where she is known to be active.