News Makers

Muslim converts to Catholicism

Italy's most prominent Muslim commentator, who has long spoken out against Islamic fanaticism and received death threats as a result, has converted to Roman Catholicism during the Vatican's Easter vigil service presided over by the pope.

Magdi Allam, 55, is the deputy editor of the Corriere della Sera newspaper and writes often on Muslim and Arab affairs. He was born a Muslim in Egypt, but was educated by Catholics and says he has never been a practicing Muslim.