PanARMENIAN.Net

Muslims Demand that Pope Apologize
15.09.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Muslim figures did not like some statements,
included in theological lecture of Pope Benedict XVI at University of
Regensburg, Bavaria. Specifically, when citing a medieval Byzantine
source, the Catholic Church leader said, «Considering what new
Mohammed brought, we will see only evil and inhumanity, this is his
call to spread faith by means of a sword.»

In response to that head of the French Council on Muslim Religion
Dalil Bubaker said, «We hope that the Catholic Church will
immediately explain its position, recognizing that it does not mix us
Islam… and Islamism, which is not a religion, but a political
ideology.» In his turn, head of the Turkish Government Committee
for Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoghlu called Pope’s words full of
«hostility and malice.»

Representatives of religious organizations, governmental and public
structures of Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and other Muslim
countries have also demanded that the Catholic Church leadership
apologize and provide explanations.

Head of Vatican Press Office Federico Lombardi responded to this
criticism, stating that Benedict XVI respects Islam, but he does not
accept violence, motivated by religion. «The Holy Father definitely
did not mean to hurt the feelings of Muslim believers,» Lombardi
said,