Pope Benedict expresses deep sorrow over reactions to his words

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Castelgandolfo, Italy, Sep 17, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI personally addressed the violent reaction to remarks he made last week, which made brief mention of Islamic Jihad. The Pontiff who offered his regrets in Italian, also repeated his remarks in English and French.

Both Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, and Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, have made statements in recent days insisting that the Pontiff did not intend to cause offense with his quoting of a 14th century emperor who called militant Islam “evil and inhuman.”

During his regular Angelus address, Sunday, the Pope attempted himself to assuage the angry reactions on the part of many Muslims, saying that he is, “deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries” to the remarks, “which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims.”

The offending quotations, the Pope continued, were from a medieval text, which do not “in any way” express his personal thought.

Instead, he said, the true meaning of his address, “was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect.”

In the meantime violence and anger have continued to escalate in the Middle East.

On the West Bank, protesters who had previously used firebombs and guns to attack Christian churches set two more ablaze, completely destroying the interior of one in the town of Tulkarem, the AP reports.

In Islamic-controlled Mogadishu, Somalia, a 70 year-old Catholic religious sister was attacked and killed while working in a mission hospital. French news service, AFP, reports that two men broke into the hospital and killed the Italian sister as she moved from one building to another.

On Friday, a prominent Mogadishu cleric called for Muslims to "hunt down" and kill Pope Benedict for his remarks.

"Whoever offends our Prophet Mohammed should be killed on the spot by the nearest Muslim," hardliner imam Sheikh Abubukar Hassan Malin told worshippers at a mosque in southern Mogadishu, according to AFP.

Comments: 16

Subscriber comments:

Published by: mercedes Jones
NL 09/19/2006 07:50 AM EST

Oh, I'm so exasperated! All educated people use quotes in a speech or a research paper! It is not their opinion or beleif! There are just some people in this world so full of hate for the Pope and the Catholic Church that they willingly misinterpret any statement or action of ours to spread that hate! The Pope has nothing to apologise for! The people he spoke of are proving his words by their very reaction to them!

Published by: Mel
Plattsburgh NY 09/18/2006 05:21 PM EST

Sabrina, I also quite agree with your sentiments. While I have
great affection for the Holy Father & great admiration for his keen intellect, I do find myself asking why he found it necessary to quote a Byzantine-era
ruler in his speech. As the quote itself clearly
has been taken out of context, we Catholics
especially need to 'tone
down' the rhetoric of condemnation here,
especially towards our Muslim brothers & sisters.
Let us all pray for peace.

Published by: Raymond
Tacoma, WA. USA 09/18/2006 02:57 PM EST

Our Holy Father has explained enough. No further apology is needed.

Published by: Matt
New York 09/18/2006 02:24 PM EST

If the Crusades were so terrible, why are many of them who fought now saints and have feast days?? One of the best classes I have taken was by a Dominican on The Crusades, The Inquisition, and The Reformation and how the blaming of The Church is not rooted in facts and is mostly modernist opinion...all Catholic colleges should teach that class.

Published by: George
San Fransico CA 09/18/2006 01:14 PM EST

To Sabrina of Springfield,
Ohio: Your posting is among the most rational
I've read here. You are correct indeed about the
Crusades. The Inquisition was also another sad part of Church History. Working
in a large academic medical center, I have the privilege of having
many Muslim colleagues who are friends; they are the most peace- loving & hospitable people I've ever known.
I share your fervent prayer, that we not allow anger to engulf ourselves, for if we do,
the 'enemy' has won!
+Our Lady of Victory,
pray for us.

Published by: Sabrina Koja
Springfield, Ohio 09/18/2006 11:30 AM EST

As I read of the anger by many over what is happening during these times of unrest I am more saddened as each day goes by. God has taught us to love. I have known many Muslims during my time here on earth and not one has ever threatened me in any manner. Anyone who believes that God has taught Muslims or any other truely religious person to kill or to be inhuman must be pitied and prayed for for their ignorance engulfs them and only God shall set them free. Power and anger lead men to hate and threaten others. I am absolutely certain that those who threaten or who kill are not religious and do not represent the true God. Those of us who are Catholis must remember that we have the Crusades to live with, in shame, for all eternity, a time when we made Muslims and others convert or be killed. This terror was not done for religious reasons but for political reasons. Beware, God's children, who are allowing the media or those who kill in the name of GOd to harden your hearts, for you will have God to answer to on judgement day. Brothers and sisters in Christ, please take time to carefully examine your motives for your anger, and do not allow them to engulf you. I, as a lifelong Catholic, am upset with our Pope for his words. He should have carefully chosen his words (as should have his advisors) before speaking. I do not understand why his words were not chosen far more carefully in this time of turmoil. God bless and help us all.

Published by: Cesar Fernandez-Stoll
Cambridge/Ontario/Canada 09/18/2006 11:24 AM EST

Maybe it is a sign of the times and finally, Islam is coming of age and accommodating to the world they belong to. A world founded on relativism and imprecise truths, of fear and threats and then of an unlimited freedom; tolerant but conditioned to political correctness and the undefeatable premise of satisfying each and every person, or is it group of people with some recognized political agenda? Interesting that some people finds Islam contradictory to the west. It is a west rooted in Judeo-Christian foundations that they have problems with; of God given individual freedom as opposed to freedom by decree for the masses.
I think finally, the sides in this latest world war are starting to shape up.
I cannot possibly see a solution to anything as long as the truth is being distorted and faith is taking so lightly as to reject the proper assessment of the truth by reasoning. Reason does not and cannot trump faith but enrich it, and fear and intimidation, and in this it is not only Islam what is a player but also secularism with all its symbols of the time; abortion, homosexuality, destruction of the family, evolution, etc.
How can anybody question Islam can only be the religion of peace, while the threat of riots, violence, murder, decapitations can be avoided by simply saying that it is not. Begs the question; why is Islam so afraid of the truth?
Jesus is the truth and His truth is peace and love.

Published by: Matt
New York 09/18/2006 11:24 AM EST

The Pope should apologize....for not converting Muslims to The Church. He should apologize for not showing them the love of Christ and that through him, there will be peace and eternal salvation. He should apologize for allowing them to suffer in heresy and evil and call for their conversion to The Catholic Church, so they can worship Christ and peace can be established.

Published by: George
San Francisco CA 09/18/2006 09:50 AM EST

To George Angel of Canada: Thank you very much indeed for your words of wisdom here.
Ephesians 4:26-27 says:
"Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you...for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil." Further on in
Ephesians 4:31-32: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words & slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
Reading that passage, I think of our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, & his great act of forgiveness towards the man who attempted to kill him.
In Matthew 5:21, Our Lord says: "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are suject to judgment'. But I say, if you angry with someone, you are subject to judgment."
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts".
Colissians 3:15
+ May our Blessed Mother & Her Immaculate Heart
pray for us all.

Published by: Phillip David Johnson
Austin, Texas 78734 09/18/2006 09:33 AM EST

We are dealing with evil, the Pope did nothing wrong, God Bless the Pope.

Published by: paula
usa 09/18/2006 08:55 AM EST

A clarion call to all Christians: Do not forget the POWER OF PRAYER; this is our weapon against the evil being poured out against the world. THE POWER OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS GOD'S LOVE, WHICH CAN NEVER BE BROKEN OR OVERCOME BY EVIL. May our Mother Mary come to our aid and pray for us. May her son, the Prince of Peace pour out His love and mercy on us.

Published by: ANTHONY CIRIGNANI
MILWAUKEE, WI. USA 09/18/2006 08:44 AM EST

i THINK THAT THESE FANATICAL HATE FILLED MUSLIMS NEED TO WAKE UP AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE EVER
JUDGED UNJUSTLY BY THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS ACTING IN THEIR NAME. I THINK THE
ISLAMIC WORLD NEEDS TO CALL THEIR IMANS TO TRANSPARENCY IN THE SAME WAY THE WORLD ASKS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND CHRISTIANITY IN GENERAL. ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER. THE REACCION TOTHE HOLY FATHERS WORDS
IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE TRUE THOUGHT OF MANY IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD TOWARDS
OUTSIDERS MAKING A HISTORICAL COMMENT.
WAKE UP MUSLIMS YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY RELIGION IN THIS WORLD OF OURS.

Published by: diane Garvin
Dallas, Texas - USA 09/17/2006 11:13 PM EST

These rabid, hate mongering critic of our beloved pope affirm that the 14th century Byzantine Emperor whose quote has sparked such fury, was actually correct. How dare they threaten our wonderful, humble pope. Benedict exemplifies the why the Catholic Church is the one true Church ... loving his enemies, speaking in truth and love, living Christ even in the midst of a dangerous world. May I add that these terrorizing muslims could care less what was really said or intended... they look for any excuse to kill and ravage, "seeking the ruin of souls."

Published by: George
San Francisco CA 09/17/2006 09:42 PM EST

If only the press
would re-print/re-broadcast the beautiful words spoken by the Holy Father, found here on the CNA web-site from March 16,2006: "Judaism, Christianity & Islam believe in one God, Creator of heaven & earth. It follows, therefore, that all three monotheistic religions are called to cooperate with one another for the common good of humanity, serving the cause of justice & peace in the world." Moving words indeed, which indicate that Pope Benedict seeks only peace through dialogue & mutual respect. How very sad indeed to read of Christian churches fire-bombed in the Holy Land & a Religious Sister being killed in Somalia. May our Lord forgive her killers. +May eternal rest grant unto her Lord, & let perpertual light shine upon her. May her soul & the the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God,
rest in peace. Our Lady,
Queen of Heaven, pray for us.

Published by: George Angel
Canada 09/17/2006 08:55 PM EST

I ask everyone who visits this CNA site to not get angry or hate anyone. Remember "Deus Caritas Est" God is love. The worst thing anyone of us can do right now is to return hate with even more hate. Jesus Christ told us to turn the other cheek and love thy enemy. Mankind or other faiths are not our true enemy. We know exactly who are true enemy is? The prince of this earth the devil is twisting and manipulating everything so that we can kill and destroy one another. Do not fall into his trap? What we as Catholics need to do today is to pray like we never prayed before. Families need to start praying together every day. Our Blessed Mother Mary who is the Queen of Peace wants us to pray the rosary every day with our families. This is what our focus needs to be from now on. Pray to our Guardian Angels and pray to Saint Michael the Archangel to protect our families and our countries. Pray also for Pope Benedict XVI the Vicar of Christ and the Catholic Church which is the Body of Christ on earth. At the Second Coming of Jesus Christ all will be made clear and right once and for all and evil will be defeated for ever and ever. The Pope and the Catholic Church will steer our ship to a heavenly port one day. Maybe even sooner than we might imagine! Do not give up and do not despair even though you might think things are totally out of control and darkness has swept humanity. This God of Love is in total control even though we think he is not. Pray! Pray! Pray!

Published by: C. Jim Sands
Albuquerque NM USA 09/17/2006 08:13 PM EST

They have not changed in over one thousand years. The quote is as valid now as it was when origionally made.

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