A Catholic and a Muslim married in the church of Fatima to “show that it is possible”.

Portuguese Tony Jorge, 39, a Catholic, and Tunisian Umaima, 36, a Muslim, were married this Friday by a Catholic church in Fatima to show other mixed-religion couples that marriage is “possible.”

The ceremony took place this afternoon in Igreha Matrices de Fatima, in the municipality of Ourem, district of Santarém, and for the bride and groom, this act proves the openness of the Catholic Church, giving a “sign of tolerance” and “compatibility”. between two religions.

“Every time we told someone about the wedding, everyone was surprised – no one knew that it was possible to marry a Muslim in a church. This is a good reason to show that this is possible,” Tony Jorge told Lusa earlier. Ceremony.

Umayma, for her part, sees “a big disappointment among young people” when they want to date someone from a different religion. “They are afraid of what might happen. Our marriage is an example of what can happen,” he said.

The relationship between them began in March 2020 in Spain, when they celebrated their birthdays in Seville, “before the Covid explosion and quarantine happened.”

The pandemic and distance — they live in France, in cities hundreds of miles away — made dating difficult. “But there we managed to find each other.”

In December 2022, Tony’s marriage proposal appeared. The difference in religion did not matter for the decision, both his and hers.

“We are both believers, I believe in God, she believes in God. We have different religions, but we know that we both have the same values. It is most important. It doesn’t matter if we pray differently or not. .”

Tony Jorge, born in France, the son of immigrant parents, born in Fatima, had an additional desire: to celebrate the union in his hometown.

“Because I am Portuguese and originally from Fatima, this Mother Church has a lot of symbolism for me. My parents were baptized here, they got married here, and my brothers and I were baptized here too. I’ve always had the idea of ​​getting married here,” he suggested.

Umayma, who did not even want a marriage of a religious nature, whatever it was, agreed. “When I realized that this could make him and his family happy and that I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, I said ‘OK’.”

Less peaceful was the family solution to this issue. “My parents weren’t very happy, but they agreed,” said the Tunisian, who had to face resistance from his brother and sister. “They wanted him to convert. I said, “No way, I’m not going to force anyone to change religion because of me.”

Umaima’s parents and another brother were present this Friday at the ceremony at Fatima’s church. Before the wedding, the bride hoped that this experience would “benefit” them, in contrast to the conservatism characteristic of Muslim generations, especially older ones. “To see that it is good to be open to other religions.”

Faced with their son’s desire to marry a Muslim woman in Fatima, Tony’s parents reacted with skepticism, but for a different reason: “They said he was crazy, that the priest would never accept this!”

Umaima recalls that all their friends told them the same thing. But the groom did not give up and went to talk to the parish priest. “It was very hospitable. He said that they had mixed marriages and that it was enough that one of us was a Catholic and was baptized,” the bride recalled.

Today, the ceremony was partly celebrated in French by Father Ruy Marteau, so that Umayma would understand.

“As a Christian, it’s nice for me to know that my religion is more open and accepting of others. That’s what religion is: accepting people, regardless of nationality, sexual orientation, etc.,” Tony said.

The party dedicated to the union of Tony and Umaima Jorge was attended by almost one and a half hundred guests.

“We chose the main dishes without pork, a food forbidden by the holy book of Muslims, the Quran. “Everyone eats this way, both Catholics and Muslims,” said Tony Jorge before the wedding.