John Esposito, would-be Catholic priest turned renowned scholar of Islam, dies aged 86

John Esposito, would-be Catholic priest turned renowned scholar of Islam, dies aged 86 Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 17:43 Esposito's distinguished career path was unexpectedly shaped by a Palestinian academic John Esposito, professor of religion, international affairs, and Islamic studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, speaks to Middle East Eye's Unapologetic podcast in August 2025 (Screengrab) Off John Esposito, a world-renowned American author, professor, and scholar of Islam who consi