Inspired by the historical encounter of St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malek al-Kamil of Egypt.

Designed to stimulate honest interfaith dialogue and positive Christian-Muslim relations.

In 2008, Franciscan Communications (Cincinnati, Ohio) proposed a 60-minute television documentary about contemporary Muslims and Christians seeking mutual understanding through dialogue. The need for such a documentary seemed obvious in post-9/11 America, when Islamophobia became a negative but potent strain in American society.

Faith communities have long recognized dialogue as a path towards mutual understanding, and though Franciscan Communications took the lead, the Damietta project was—and still is—a combined effort of Muslim and Christian entities. Key funders to date include the Houston-based Institute of Interfaith Dialog (a Muslim group) and the Catholic Communication Campaign (U.S. Catholic bishops), as well as the Franciscan Provinces of the Holy Name and St. John the Baptist.

During a year of research, the goal was to find out if the story of the 13th century meeting in Damietta, Egypt could convince viewers of the possibility of conversation across cultural barriers, even in a time of war. Interviews were videotaped with key Franciscan scholars and artists, and religious leaders active in Catholic and Muslim interfaith dialogue efforts. The producers also went to Turkey, Syria and Egypt to examine how Franciscan and other Christian communities function in predominantly Muslim societies, and to gather some preliminary footage of the Damietta region. As a result, they concluded that when Muslims and Christians try to deal honestly with a common problem, misconceptions are dissolved, fears are allayed and new ways of building a society are discovered.

Urged by queries and suggestions from interfaith dialogue groups around the country, the producers are completing the project as three episodes on one DVD designed to stimulate local discussion and action:

Episode 1: Historical facts and speculation about the 1219 encounter

Episode 2: Interpretations of the encounter (15th-20th centuries) and its legacy

Episode 3: Principles of the encounter in faith-based action and community service

An advisory board of leading Muslims and Catholic Christians has been recruited to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the documentary’s content.