Rome, Italy, Apr 19, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The editor of a religious magazine apologized Sunday for publishing a cartoon that angered several Muslim organizations in Italy, reported the Middle East Times.

The cartoon appeared in the March issue of Studi Cattolici. It was based on Dante Aleghieri's epic poem "The Divine Comedy" in which the Roman poet Virgil guides the Italian poet through the various circles of Hell. The cartoon shows Prophet Mohammed among the damned, cut in two for "bringing divisions to society".

The editor, Cesare Cavalleri, said it was not his intention to offend anyone and asked for forgiveness. He said he was surprised by the reaction to the cartoon, adding that the cartoon had been "interpreted as anti-Islamic when it was a condemnation of the cultural identity crisis of the West".

Cavalleri is a member of Opus Dei, and the magazine is published by the same company that puts out the works of Opus Dei founder St. Josemaria Escriva.

The prelature of Opus Dei however, issued a recent statement saying that Studi Cattolici is not one of its publications.

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