Iranian Scholar’s Vision of Mary as Bridge Between Civilizations Captivates Vatican Congress

VATICAN CITY — In a remarkable convergence of Islamic and Christian scholarship, the 26th International Mariological Congress concluded at the Vatican this month with an unprecedented exploration of the Virgin Mary’s place in Iranian culture and Islamic tradition, delivered by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ambassador to the Holy See.

The four-day congress, held September 3rd through 6th and hosted by the Pontifical International Marian Academy, brought together delegations from across the globe and prominent religious figures for what organizers described as both a scientific and spiritual assembly. The gathering culminated with an address by Pope Leo XIV, but it was the presentation by Dr. Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari that offered delegates a window into dimensions of Marian devotion largely unexplored in Western academic circles.

“In the history and culture of Iran, the Holy Mary has always been revered, and this figure can serve as a link for dialogue and the proximity of religions in contemporary culture,” Dr. Mokhtari told the assembly, framing the Virgin Mary as what he called a “trans-religious role model” whose significance transcends denominational boundaries.

The Ambassador’s presentation drew extensively on Islamic theology, revealing that Mary’s name appears more than thirty times in the Quran—featured prominently in Surahs Al-Imran and Maryam. Drawing on the scholarly work of Allameh Tabataba’i, one of the twentieth century’s most respected Quranic commentators, Dr. Mokhtari illuminated three dimensions of Mary’s personality as understood in Islamic tradition: her purity and chastity, presenting her as an eternal model of virtue for all believers; her divine selection and superiority over all women of the world; and her complete submission to divine will in accepting God’s command regarding the miraculous birth of Jesus without dispute.

The depth of Marian reverence in Iranian society became particularly evident when Dr. Mokhtari cited contemporary civil statistics. According to Iranian Civil Registry reports, “Maryam” ranks as the third most popular name for girls in Iran, surpassed only by “Fatima” and “Zahra”—both names of the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter. This striking data point, the Ambassador suggested, demonstrates how deeply Mary’s figure has penetrated popular consciousness in the Islamic Republic.

Dr. Mokhtari then guided his audience through Persian literary and mystical traditions, where Mary appears as a recurring symbol of spiritual purity. In the poetry of Rumi, known as Molavi in Iran, Mary’s presence manifests through concepts like the “Messianic Breath” and “Mary-likeness” as metaphors for inner spiritual transformation. The great Persian poets Hafez and Attar likewise employed her name as a symbol of spirituality, serenity, and modesty in their mystical works.

The Ambassador’s presentation extended beyond textual traditions to encompass Iran’s architectural and artistic heritage. He recalled historic churches such as the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan and the Mother Mary Church, known locally as Naneh Maryam, in Urmia—structures that stand as living testimony to centuries of Muslim-Christian coexistence on Iranian soil. Across various eras of Persian miniature painting, Iranian artists have repeatedly depicted scenes from the Virgin Mary’s life, further embedding her image in the nation’s visual culture.

Dr. Mokhtari’s presentation also referenced contemporary expressions of this reverence, including the Iranian film “Saint Mary,” which has contributed to solidifying an exalted image of the Virgin in modern Iranian public consciousness.

In his concluding remarks, the Ambassador articulated a vision that resonated powerfully with the congress’s mission. In Iranian culture, he observed, the Virgin Mary exists “not merely as a historical figure but as a symbol of faith, honesty, and the bond between divine religions.” He argued that honoring her status in the modern world holds the potential to deepen interfaith dialogue and strengthen peaceful coexistence on a global scale.

The congress, which featured scholarly presentations alongside spiritual reflection, demonstrated the ongoing vitality of Mariological studies in fostering understanding across religious traditions. For the assembled theologians, Dr. Mokhtari’s address offered both scholarly rigor and a hopeful vision for interfaith engagement in an increasingly divided world.