Pope 'sorry' for offence to Islam
Pope Benedict XVI in Freising, southern Germany
The Vatican said the Pope's remarks had been misinterpreted
Pope Benedict XVI has said he is sorry that a speech in which he referred to Islam has offended Muslims.
In a statement read out by a senior Vatican official, the Pope said he respected Islam and hoped Muslims would understand the true sense of his words.
In Tuesday's speech the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.
The remarks prompted protests from Muslims around the world.
The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers
Tarcisio Bertone
Vatican secretary of state
Pope reacts: Full text
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says the speed with which the Vatican has reacted shows just how seriously it views the situation.
Reading the statement, new Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said the Pope's position on Islam was in line with Vatican teaching that the Church "esteems Muslims, who adore the only God".
"The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers," the statement said.
But Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said the statement did not go far enough and called on the pontiff to apologise in person.
"The Vatican Secretary of State says that the Pope is sorry because his statements had been badly interpreted, but there is no bad interpretation," Abdel Moneim Abul Futuh, a senior official from the opposition party told AFP.
Turkey concerns
Our correspondent says the statement goes as far as it can towards an apology.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Pope Benedict probably should self-criticise Christianity's violent past before commenting on the other faith
John Lin, Illinois
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Key excerpts: Pope's speech
In quotes: Muslim reaction
But the Pope is known to have strong feelings about the relationship between religion and violence and is thought unlikely to retract the sentiment of his speech.
There will still be concerns about whether to go ahead with the Pope's planned visit to Turkey in November, our correspondent says.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says Pope Benedict, a theologian who has led a sheltered life in the Vatican for more than two decades, may not have understood the potential implications of his remarks.
He says the Cardinal Bertone, the newly-appointed top Vatican official, faces the task of serious damage control in the coming days.
Security at the Vatican is being stepped up, although the pontiff remains closeted with his closest advisers at his summer villa at Castelgandolfo near Rome.
Protests
In his speech at Regensburg University on Tuesday, the German-born Pope quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Orthodox Christian Byzantine Empire.
Protester in Srinagar
Street protests have been held in Pakistan, India, Turkey and Gaza
Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted the emperor saying: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
He also said that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul".
Reactions to the speech have come from such leaders as Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who said efforts to link Islam and terrorism should be clearly opposed.
Street protests have been held in Pakistan, India, Turkey and Gaza.
In the West Bank city of Nablus, two churches were firebombed on Saturday in attacks claimed by a group which said it was protesting against the Pope's remarks.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come to the pontiff's defence, saying the aim of the speech had been misunderstood.
Allah Knows best what lies in ur heart and soon the muslims and and non muslims will know that hate against ISLAM will lead them nowhere but to Islam as thier Region OF CHOICE .
The One And Only religion that exists before and beyound eternity
Anyway lets put this bad episode behind us like we always do . BUT REMEMBER EEN IF U CHOOSE TO FORGIVE__ DO NOT FORGET THIS AS IT REFLECTS WHAT POPE THINKS OF ISLAM
Last edited by Iconoclast; 09-17-2006 at 10:39 AM.
When Abi Talib was asked to convince the Messenger of Allah he the holy Prophet SAW said : "O uncle, if they were to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to stop me from preaching Islam, I would never stop. I will keep preaching until Allah makes Islam prevail or I die."
It is interesting that the comments by the pope were quotes from someone centuries ago in reference to violence insighted by mohommud. The anger and denial expressed in response by some, came in the form of fire bombs and attacks by gunmen.
How is it rational to deny violence by responding violently?
It is interesting that the comments by the pope were quotes from someone centuries ago in reference to violence insighted by mohommud. The anger and denial expressed in response by some, came in the form of fire bombs and attacks by gunmen.
How is it rational to deny violence by responding violently?
It isn't rational at all, of course.
The real tragedy is that behaviour like that just reinforces the opinion that many hold, wrongly, in the West that the Pope (or to be accurate the Emperor he quoted) was correct.
Bloody hell. There's always someone willing to do something stupid like this, murder an innocent person, and in so doing condemn Islam even further. I hope they catch the murderer.
Those who react: They try to set the record straight, edcuate the people etc.
All three are wrong in my opinion, the first might have good intention but during these hostile times, don't seem to do anything but a few words people need to challange the problems head on and give solutions to keep everyone happy.
That's not good and should not have happened ... but if i say or the other Muslims say LI Forum Strongly Condemns Such Acts of violence it will too political. and no one will believe it as we are used to hearing it from our friends in the west.
1st step lets learn about Islam and Allahs Messenger and please no concessions in following Islam
When Abi Talib was asked to convince the Messenger of Allah he the holy Prophet SAW said : "O uncle, if they were to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to stop me from preaching Islam, I would never stop. I will keep preaching until Allah makes Islam prevail or I die."
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