A high-profile Muslim commentator in Italy converted to Catholicism over the Easter weekend. Magdi Allam (pictured), a top editor for the Corriere della Sera newspaper, praised Pope Benedict XVI — himself under fire from militant Islam — for defending civilization.

The surprise baptism of Allam by the pope during the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on March 22 highlighted tensions that have at times characterized the theologian-pope's relationship with the Muslim world.