This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/5376556.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Pope meets Islamic world envoys Pope stresses respect for Muslims
(about 3 hours later)
Pope Benedict XVI has met envoys from Muslim nations in an attempt to defuse a crisis in relations between the Catholic Church and Islam. Pope Benedict XVI has expressed "total and profound respect" for the Muslim faith, as he attempts to defuse a row between Islam and the Catholic Church.
He expressed "total and profound respect" for the Muslim faith, and said inter-faith dialogue was vital. He made the remarks in a meeting with envoys from the Muslim world, weeks after a speech in Germany prompted an angry reaction by some Muslims.
In response, Iraqi ambassador Albert Yelda said it was "time to put what happened behind us and build bridges". Iraq's ambassador said it was time to move on from the row and build bridges.
The meeting aimed at reconciliation after recent remarks made by the Pope caused outrage in the Islamic world. But the Indonesian envoy said he was surprised that there was no direct dialogue at the meeting.
Muslim leaders had been demanding an unequivocal apology from the Pope. In the space of just half an hour, the pontiff made a brief speech to envoys before greeting them individually, but there was no general discussion.
Muslim leaders had been demanding an unequivocal apology from the Pope for his words.
Dialogue welcomedDialogue welcomed
The meeting, which lasted just 30 minutes, was held at the Pope's residence near Rome. The meeting was held at the Pope's residence near Rome.
I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims Pope Benedict XVI Text of Pope's address Excerpts from original speech I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims Pope Benedict XVI Text of Pope's address href="/1/hi/world/europe/5378606.stm" class="">Muslims debate reaction href="/1/hi/world/europe/5348456.stm" class="">Excerpts from original speech
Ambassadors from 21 countries and a representative from the Arab League attended. Ambassadors from 21 countries and a representative from the Arab League attended, as well as Islamic representatives in Italy.
"I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims," the Pope said in a brief speech to the envoys. Of mainly Muslim countries with diplomatic relations with the Vatican, only Sudan failed to attend.
"I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims," the Pope said in the speech.
He called for "sincere and respectful dialogue", adding that Christians and Muslims alike must reject all forms of violence and respect religious liberty.He called for "sincere and respectful dialogue", adding that Christians and Muslims alike must reject all forms of violence and respect religious liberty.
Correspondents say the latter was a reference to restrictions on the church's activity in some Muslim countries.Correspondents say the latter was a reference to restrictions on the church's activity in some Muslim countries.
"Since the beginning of my pontificate I have had occasion to express my wish to continue to establish bridges of friendship with believers of all religions, showing particularly my appreciation in the belief in dialogue between Muslims and Christians," he said."Since the beginning of my pontificate I have had occasion to express my wish to continue to establish bridges of friendship with believers of all religions, showing particularly my appreciation in the belief in dialogue between Muslims and Christians," he said.
"...The inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims is, in effect, a vital necessity, on which a large part of our future depends.""...The inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims is, in effect, a vital necessity, on which a large part of our future depends."
He also quoted his predecessor, John Paul II, stating the need for "reciprocity in all fields".He also quoted his predecessor, John Paul II, stating the need for "reciprocity in all fields".
Following the speech the Pope greeted the envoys individually, before concluding the meeting.
Those attending included the head of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Paul Poupard, and Islamic representatives in Italy, as well as Muslim ambassadors to the Vatican.
Cardinal Poupard said that the meeting was "a signal that the Holy Father's call for a dialogue between cultures and religion has been widely welcomed".
Yahya Pallavicini, vice-president of one of Italy's main Islamic organisations, the Islamic Religious Community, said he hoped the meeting would be "the starting point for a new scenario of inter-faith dialogue with knowledge and truly religious Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars".
HAVE YOUR SAY The Pope, or indeed anyone else, has the right to make remarks (in this case not even his own) about any religion, it's called freedom of speech Qwerty, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The Pope, or indeed anyone else, has the right to make remarks (in this case not even his own) about any religion, it's called freedom of speech Qwerty, UK Send us your comments
However, he expressed a fear that the Pope's comments demonstrated a "Christian Catholic exclusivism" - a belief that Catholicism was superior to other religions. Iraqi ambassador Albert Yelda said he was satisfied by the Pope's remarks.
Earlier EU Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has defended the Pope, saying more European leaders should have supported him. "I think it is time to put what happened behind us and build bridges among all the civilisations," he said.
"I was disappointed there were not more European leaders who said: 'Naturally, the Pope has the right to express his views'," Mr Barroso was quoted as saying in an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper. But in a BBC interview, the ambassador of Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, pointed out that the Pope had not referred directly to the speech which sparked the controversy.
"The problem is not the comments of the Pope but the reactions of the extremists." "We had hoped that there would have been a dialogue, but that was not the case," Bambang Prayitno said.
"There was no dialogue between the Pope and the guests... In general, we were actually a bit surprised that the meeting was a short one and just like that."
'Misunderstood''Misunderstood'
The pontiff said he was "deeply sorry", following the reactions in some countries to words of a speech he made in southern Germany earlier in the month. The pontiff has expressed regret following the reactions in some countries to words of a speech he made in southern Germany earlier in the month.
On Wednesday, he told pilgrims at the Vatican that his remarks in Bavaria last week had been "misunderstood".On Wednesday, he told pilgrims at the Vatican that his remarks in Bavaria last week had been "misunderstood".
He said his use of a quote from a 14th-Century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, did not reflect his personal opinion.He said his use of a quote from a 14th-Century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, did not reflect his personal opinion.
The quote says: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."The quote says: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
The Pope said his real intention had been to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do".The Pope said his real intention had been to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do".