Encountering Christ in Others—Interfaith Friendships

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection one last time before walking out the door. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous flutter in my stomach. My outfit was simple and professional. “Will I feel out of place without a headscarf?” I wondered. I reassured myself that it would be fine. This was not my first time visiting the Muslim community center.

In the years following 9/11, a friend from work invited me to join their annual interfaith iftar, the traditional breaking of the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. With each passing year, I looked forward to these joyful gatherings, grounded in our common belief in the one true God. It was heartening to discover a shared commitment to peace and human dignity, and a similarity in the spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, all enjoyed over a delicious meal.

Tonight, however, the mood was somber. The Muslim community stood in mourning following the deadly mass shooting at the mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. The ripple effect of fear could be felt halfway around the world in Chicago, and my friend was one of the primary organizers of the large public gathering. The room was bustling when I arrived, and it would soon be filled beyond capacity. We caught each other’s eye as I entered the auditorium, and we greeted each other with a warm embrace. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she sighed, choking back tears. “You have no idea how much it means to see you.”

The entire evening was deeply moving, with prayers and speeches by local political and religious leaders, including a representative from the Catholic archdiocese. The final speaker of the night, a 13-year-old from the Muslim center’s youth council, offered an impassioned plea for peace and dialogue. Her remarks were met with thunderous applause. In the face of tragedy, there was tremendous solace in standing in solidarity with our neighbors and vowing not to be strangers to one another.

When asked to consider where I find Christ in others, I can trace a long line of encounters with God through people of other faith traditions. I am blessed to look back on a litany of friendships with women and men who are not Catholic; yet, despite our differences, they have shown me the face of Christ. Their witness and devotion to their own religious practices have helped me grow in my faith and understanding of God.

Jenny, my best friend from high school, took me to my first Christian concert and ushered me into an adult faith. She made Jesus real to me! It made no difference that she was Lutheran. In my twenties, I joined a book club with Kelli and some women from her non-denominational church, who taught me to pray with boldness and fervor. I’m forever grateful for a Jewish colleague who patiently explained the practice of keeping kosher and peppered me with her own questions about the Blessed Mother. At the height of the sexual abuse crisis, it was Wendy, an ordained Presbyterian minister, who became a sounding board for my disillusionment with the church—a true saving grace.

To be clear, I have an unwavering belief in and commitment to the tenets of the Catholic faith. Alongside this list, I could add the names of hundreds of Catholic friends, mentors, and ministry colleagues. But it is my non-Catholic, and even non-Christian, friends who cause me to take notice of God in a particular way. The Church has a rich history of interfaith dialogue. The Catholic Church “rejects nothing that is true and holy” in other religions, and despite our differences in belief, the Church recognizes that other faith traditions “often reflect a ray of Truth which enlightens all people.” (Nostra Aetate, 2)

In my longing to know God, these friendships help me see God from a new perspective. They reveal an image of the Creator that I would not have otherwise seen. These friendships invite me to take to heart that each person we meet is made in the image and likeness of God. Everyone—regardless of race, gender, language, country of origin, sexual orientation, or religious identity. In God, there is no “other,” only unique souls who bear the fingerprints of our loving Creator.

The first letter of John reminds us, “No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.” (1 John 4:12)

None of us can fully understand God. But in showing me a glimpse of God that I have not seen before, I feel ever-closer to God, who is ultimately incomprehensible. I look upon the profound mystery of God with greater humility and awe. These friendships make me want to be holy and grow deeper in my Catholic faith. They make me want to be a better Christian—not “better than” anyone else, but more loving, kind, and generous so that others might encounter God, too.

Last week, I received an email from a colleague, a devout and faithful Muslim. His greeting made me pause. “I pray you are well…” he wrote. I am convinced this is where peace begins: when we offer to each other, with absolute sincerity, our prayer for one another. Surely, this is what it means to love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)

To see Christ in another is to experience the presence of the Risen One, who stood amid a community full of fear and said, “Peace be with you.” Peace begins when we recognize the profound dignity placed by God in every human being. I am grateful for the interfaith friendships that have shown this to me time and time again.

Going Deeper

• Pope Leo XIV’s recent travels to Africa included a stop in Algeria, a country that is predominantly Muslim and home to only 9,000 Catholics. Pope Leo XIV brought a profound message of peace and spirit of dialogue. Take some time to read and reflect on his remarks.

• For October 2025, Pope Leo XIV dedicated his monthly prayer intention to collaboration between different religious traditions. Visit the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to join in this prayer.

• Read the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, Nostra Aetate (Pope Paul VI, 1965), and Pope Leo XIV’s catechesis on Nostra Aetate, in celebration of the 60th Anniversary.

Photo by Amanda Doyle on Unsplash

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Beth Knobbe

Beth Knobbe is an author, speaker, and ministry professional based in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Catholic Theological Union and serves as a Senior Trainer with Catholic Relief Services, engaging Catholics in living their faith in solidarity with the poor around the world. Beth is an avid traveler and is passionate about her vocation to the single life. Beth is the author of Party of One: Living Single with Faith, Purpose, and Passion (2011) and Finding My Voice: A Young Woman’s Perspective (2009). Her personal blog can be found at www.bethknobbe.com.