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Vatican-Muslim talks due in Italy | Vatican-Muslim talks due in Italy |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Vatican and Muslim officials are due to meet in Rome to lay the foundations for landmark Catholic-Islamic talks later this year. | |
Senior figures from each religion will discuss details of the planned talks, due to involve Pope Benedict XVI. | Senior figures from each religion will discuss details of the planned talks, due to involve Pope Benedict XVI. |
Catholic-Muslim relations soured after a 2006 speech in Germany, in which the Pope quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor's criticisms of Islam. | Catholic-Muslim relations soured after a 2006 speech in Germany, in which the Pope quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor's criticisms of Islam. |
The Regensburg speech provoked Muslim fury and triggered protests worldwide. | The Regensburg speech provoked Muslim fury and triggered protests worldwide. |
But it also prompted 138 Muslim scholars from 43 countries to launch an appeal to the Pope for greater theological dialogue, called the Common Word. | |
Since then the number of signatories to the appeal has grown to more than 200. | |
Wider dialogue | |
The two-day talks in Rome mark the start of a process which - it is hoped - will lead to the larger meeting, which is likely to take place either at the Vatican before the summer, or at the Pope's summer residence, south of Rome, in August. | |
We must try, together with the Pope, to get on a path of dialogue on issues confronting humanity today Sergio Yahe PallaviciniVice President of Italian Islamic Religious Community | |
"Now there is a need for deeper dialogue on doctrine, theology and the character of religions in today's world and the challenges we face," Sergio Yahe Pallavicini, a member of the Muslim delegation, was quoted as saying by Reuters. | |
"We must try, together with the Pope, to get on a path of dialogue on issues confronting humanity today," said Mr Pallavicini, Vice President of the Italian Islamic Religious Community. | |
One of the subjects to be discussed at the summit later this year will be terrorism, reports say. | |
Although Pope Benedict repeatedly expressed regret for the reaction to his speech in Regensburg, he stopped short of the clear apology sought by Muslims. | Although Pope Benedict repeatedly expressed regret for the reaction to his speech in Regensburg, he stopped short of the clear apology sought by Muslims. |
But the BBC's Frances Kennedy in Rome says the Vatican is now clearly convinced of the need for a wider, if more difficult, dialogue with Islam. | But the BBC's Frances Kennedy in Rome says the Vatican is now clearly convinced of the need for a wider, if more difficult, dialogue with Islam. |