Believers In Rome Arrested For Holding Up Banner

Police holds up the confiscated The Mahdi has Appeared banner

UPDATE — May 9, 2025 — In a dramatic turn of events, Vatican authorities have detained several followers of Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, leader of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), as they staged protests declaring him the 'New Pope.' The arrests occurred at St. Peter’s Square and other key locations as the conclave to elect a new pope unfolded.

On Easter Sunday, AROPL members launched a coordinated global campaign in multiple countries, claiming that Aba Al-Sadiq is the rightful Pope, chosen by God. This message gained momentum following the death of Pope Francis the following day, an event that AROPL believers hailed as a divine sign.

On May 8th, the first group of protesters — Soufiane, Armidel, Ilian, Alexandre, Mehmet, Yacine, and Rayane — were detained in St. Peter’s Square while holding up their banner and engaging with journalists from RTS and BBC. According to sources, the group was approached by three men in civilian clothes who conducted an identity check and subsequently escorted them to a police station for questioning.

One of the protesters, Alexandre, was told by police that the group had violated Italian laws by holding an unlawful demonstration and distributing flyers without authorization. They were photographed, warned, and effectively banned from the Vatican, but no formal charges were filed against them.

Simultaneously, a second group of AROPL members, including Ahmed Nicevic (Swiss), Said Zouaoui (Swiss), and Mustafa Kamal (UK), were arrested in Rome while displaying a large banner proclaiming Aba Al-Sadiq’s papal claim. The banner was confiscated, and the group was taken to a police station, where they were charged with holding an unauthorized demonstration. The arrest was filmed, and footage is reportedly circulating on social media.

The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of AROPL activities by Italian authorities, who have been monitoring the group since April 20th, citing concerns over public order. Several Italian and Spanish news outlets have reported on the incidents, underscoring the escalating tensions surrounding the group’s provocative campaign in the heart of Catholicism.

Vatican City — May 7, 2025 — In the wake of the viral New Pope speech by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, leader of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, a wave of controversy continues to ripple across the globe. As the Vatican commences its conclave to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis, AROPL believers have once again taken to the streets, declaring that a new Pope has already been divinely chosen - and it is Aba Al-Sadiq.

On Easter Sunday, followers of Aba Al-Sadiq had launched a coordinated global campaign, appearing outside churches in nations including Colombia, Mexico, the United States, the UK, Italy, and Vatican City. They announced that Aba Al-Sadiq is the rightful Pope, chosen by God to lead humanity. Pope Francis passed away the very next day, leading believers to proclaim the event as a miracle and a divine confirmation of their message.

Today, as the conclave unfolds, the four European men who raised black banners bearing the AROPL flag in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday — El Haouss Ahmed, Alexandre Graziani, Ben Abdslam Soufiane, Admir Nicevic as well as eight more brave believers — have returned to the Rome to continue their campaign, undeterred by backlash and police warnings.

Meanwhile, missionary work announcing "The New Pope” has spread to France, Canada, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, and beyond. A slideshow documenting this global campaign can be viewed here.