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| Pope meets Islamic world envoys | Pope meets Islamic world envoys |
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| Pope Benedict XVI has met envoys from Muslim nations in an attempt to defuse a crisis in relations between the Catholic Church and Islam. | Pope Benedict XVI has met envoys from Muslim nations in an attempt to defuse a crisis in relations between the Catholic Church and Islam. |
| He expressed "total and profound respect" for the Muslim faith, and said inter-faith dialogue was vital. | He expressed "total and profound respect" for the Muslim faith, and said inter-faith dialogue was vital. |
| In response, Iraqi ambassador Albert Yelda said it was "time to put what happened behind us and build bridges". | In response, Iraqi ambassador Albert Yelda said it was "time to put what happened behind us and build bridges". |
| The meeting aimed at reconciliation after recent remarks made by the Pope caused outrage in the Islamic world. | The meeting aimed at reconciliation after recent remarks made by the Pope caused outrage in the Islamic world. |
| Muslim leaders had been demanding an unequivocal apology from the Pope. | Muslim leaders had been demanding an unequivocal apology from the Pope. |
| Dialogue welcomed | Dialogue welcomed |
| The meeting, which lasted just 30 minutes, was held at the Pope's residence near Rome. | The meeting, which lasted just 30 minutes, was held at the Pope's residence near Rome. |
| I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims Pope Benedict XVI Text of Pope's address Excerpts from original speech | |
| Ambassadors from 21 countries and a representative from the Arab League attended. | Ambassadors from 21 countries and a representative from the Arab League attended. |
| "I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims," the Pope said in a brief speech to the envoys. | "I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims," the Pope said in a brief speech to the envoys. |
| He called for "sincere and respectful dialogue", adding that Christians and Muslims alike must reject all forms of violence and respect religious liberty. | He called for "sincere and respectful dialogue", adding that Christians and Muslims alike must reject all forms of violence and respect religious liberty. |
| Correspondents say the latter was a reference to restrictions on the church's activity in some Muslim countries. | Correspondents say the latter was a reference to restrictions on the church's activity in some Muslim countries. |
| "Since the beginning of my pontificate I have had occasion to express my wish to continue to establish bridges of friendship with believers of all religions, showing particularly my appreciation in the belief in dialogue between Muslims and Christians," he said. | "Since the beginning of my pontificate I have had occasion to express my wish to continue to establish bridges of friendship with believers of all religions, showing particularly my appreciation in the belief in dialogue between Muslims and Christians," he said. |
| "...The inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims is, in effect, a vital necessity, on which a large part of our future depends." | "...The inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims is, in effect, a vital necessity, on which a large part of our future depends." |
| He also quoted his predecessor, John Paul II, stating the need for "reciprocity in all fields". | He also quoted his predecessor, John Paul II, stating the need for "reciprocity in all fields". |
| Following the speech the Pope greeted the envoys individually, before concluding the meeting. | Following the speech the Pope greeted the envoys individually, before concluding the meeting. |
| Those attending included the head of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Paul Poupard, and Islamic representatives in Italy, as well as Muslim ambassadors to the Vatican. | Those attending included the head of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Paul Poupard, and Islamic representatives in Italy, as well as Muslim ambassadors to the Vatican. |
| Cardinal Poupard said that the meeting was "a signal that the Holy Father's call for a dialogue between cultures and religion has been widely welcomed". | Cardinal Poupard said that the meeting was "a signal that the Holy Father's call for a dialogue between cultures and religion has been widely welcomed". |
| Yahya Pallavicini, vice-president of one of Italy's main Islamic organisations, the Islamic Religious Community, said he hoped the meeting would be "the starting point for a new scenario of inter-faith dialogue with knowledge and truly religious Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars". | Yahya Pallavicini, vice-president of one of Italy's main Islamic organisations, the Islamic Religious Community, said he hoped the meeting would be "the starting point for a new scenario of inter-faith dialogue with knowledge and truly religious Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The Pope, or indeed anyone else, has the right to make remarks (in this case not even his own) about any religion, it's called freedom of speech Qwerty, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The Pope, or indeed anyone else, has the right to make remarks (in this case not even his own) about any religion, it's called freedom of speech Qwerty, UK Send us your comments |
| However, he expressed a fear that the Pope's comments demonstrated a "Christian Catholic exclusivism" - a belief that Catholicism was superior to other religions. | However, he expressed a fear that the Pope's comments demonstrated a "Christian Catholic exclusivism" - a belief that Catholicism was superior to other religions. |
| Earlier EU Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has defended the Pope, saying more European leaders should have supported him. | Earlier EU Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has defended the Pope, saying more European leaders should have supported him. |
| "I was disappointed there were not more European leaders who said: 'Naturally, the Pope has the right to express his views'," Mr Barroso was quoted as saying in an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper. | "I was disappointed there were not more European leaders who said: 'Naturally, the Pope has the right to express his views'," Mr Barroso was quoted as saying in an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper. |
| "The problem is not the comments of the Pope but the reactions of the extremists." | "The problem is not the comments of the Pope but the reactions of the extremists." |
| 'Misunderstood' | 'Misunderstood' |
| The pontiff said he was "deeply sorry", following the reactions in some countries to words of a speech he made in southern Germany earlier in the month. | The pontiff said he was "deeply sorry", following the reactions in some countries to words of a speech he made in southern Germany earlier in the month. |
| On Wednesday, he told pilgrims at the Vatican that his remarks in Bavaria last week had been "misunderstood". | On Wednesday, he told pilgrims at the Vatican that his remarks in Bavaria last week had been "misunderstood". |
| He said his use of a quote from a 14th-Century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, did not reflect his personal opinion. | He said his use of a quote from a 14th-Century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, did not reflect his personal opinion. |
| The quote says: "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." | The quote says: "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." |
| The Pope said his real intention had been to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do". | The Pope said his real intention had been to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do". |