| Muslim and Vatican officials are holding historic talks in Rome to establish a better inter-faith dialogue and defuse any future tensions. | Muslim and Vatican officials are holding historic talks in Rome to establish a better inter-faith dialogue and defuse any future tensions. |
| Catholic-Muslim ties soured after Pope Benedict XVI's speech in 2006, in which he linked Muslims with past violence. | Catholic-Muslim ties soured after Pope Benedict XVI's speech in 2006, in which he linked Muslims with past violence. |
| The speech provoked Muslim outrage and triggered violent protests. | The speech provoked Muslim outrage and triggered violent protests. |
| It also prompted leading Muslim scholars to launch an appeal to the Pope for greater theological dialogue, called the Common Word. | It also prompted leading Muslim scholars to launch an appeal to the Pope for greater theological dialogue, called the Common Word. |
| The manifesto now has more than 250 signatories. | The manifesto now has more than 250 signatories. |
| Muslim leaders say protests against the Pope's speech - and also the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper in 2005 - might have been avoided if Christian and Muslim leaders had spoken out together against such violence. | Muslim leaders say protests against the Pope's speech - and also the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper in 2005 - might have been avoided if Christian and Muslim leaders had spoken out together against such violence. |
| 'New chapter' | 'New chapter' |
| The three-day talks in Rome are being attended by nearly 60 religious leaders and scholars from each side. | The three-day talks in Rome are being attended by nearly 60 religious leaders and scholars from each side. |
| The Muslim delegation is being led by Grand Mufti of Bosnia Mustafa Ceric, while Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran heads the Vatican officials. | The Muslim delegation is being led by Grand Mufti of Bosnia Mustafa Ceric, while Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran heads the Vatican officials. |
| The meeting opens " a new chapter in the long history" of the dialogue between the two faiths, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran told France's La Croix newspaper on the eve of the talks. | The meeting opens " a new chapter in the long history" of the dialogue between the two faiths, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran told France's La Croix newspaper on the eve of the talks. |
| The first two days will be taken up by discussions on God's love and loving one's neighbour, with the Pope due to meet the delegates on Thursday. | The first two days will be taken up by discussions on God's love and loving one's neighbour, with the Pope due to meet the delegates on Thursday. |
| The pontiff is seeking to avoid future misunderstanding between the two religions, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says. | The pontiff is seeking to avoid future misunderstanding between the two religions, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says. |
| The Vatican is also keen to exchange opinions with Muslims about reciprocity in allowing places of worship to be built, our correspondent says. | The Vatican is also keen to exchange opinions with Muslims about reciprocity in allowing places of worship to be built, our correspondent says. |
| Although many mosques are now being built in Europe, some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, still bar Christians from erecting churches there and practising their religion freely. | Although many mosques are now being built in Europe, some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, still bar Christians from erecting churches there and practising their religion freely. |
| There are about two billion Christians in the world, just over half of them Catholics. | There are about two billion Christians in the world, just over half of them Catholics. |
| Muslims, who now number about 1.3 billion, recently overtook the number of Catholics worldwide for the first time. | Muslims, who now number about 1.3 billion, recently overtook the number of Catholics worldwide for the first time. |
| |
Are you a Catholic or a Muslim? Do you think the talks will create a better understanding between the two faiths? Send us your comments by completing the form below | |
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | |
| |
