2008 Woodie Awards
Firestorm over quotation difficult to extinguish
Sarah Vernon '07
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: World
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In an attempt to reach out to Muslim leaders, Pope Benedict XVI met this week with 22 ambassadors from Islamic countries, emphasizing his respect for Islam. The meeting was the latest effort on the part of the Vatican to diffuse the controversy surrounding the pope's Sept. 12 speech on reason and faith at a German university that offended many Muslims.
While the pope did not issue a second apology, he expressed his hope that Muslim and Christian leaders could work together to build tolerance and discourage violence. Pope Benedict also spoke of the importance of "reciprocity" between Catholics and Muslims. The Pope's conciliatory words and gestures were taken in good faith by many of the ambassadors attending the meeting. The New York Times quoted the Iraqi envoy Albert Edward Ismail Yelda as saying "It is now time to put what happened behind and build bridges."
The source of the controversy has been rooted in a quote the Pope used in a scholarly address intended to be a discussion on faith and reason in the Western world. One of the main arguments of the speech was against the use of violence in the name of religion.
Quoting the thoughts of a 14th century Emperor in a dialogue with a Persian scholar on Christianity and Islam, Pope Benedict said "Show me just what Mohammed 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."
Yet, preceding this comment the Pope pointed out the "startling brusqueness," of the Emperor's words "which leaves us astounded."
Following the widespread condemnation of his remarks and protests throughout Muslim countries, the Pope issued an unusual apology to the Muslim world, stating "I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims."
Many Islamic clerics criticized the Pope for not going far enough in his apology, expressing their disappointment.
While the pope did not issue a second apology, he expressed his hope that Muslim and Christian leaders could work together to build tolerance and discourage violence. Pope Benedict also spoke of the importance of "reciprocity" between Catholics and Muslims. The Pope's conciliatory words and gestures were taken in good faith by many of the ambassadors attending the meeting. The New York Times quoted the Iraqi envoy Albert Edward Ismail Yelda as saying "It is now time to put what happened behind and build bridges."
The source of the controversy has been rooted in a quote the Pope used in a scholarly address intended to be a discussion on faith and reason in the Western world. One of the main arguments of the speech was against the use of violence in the name of religion.
Quoting the thoughts of a 14th century Emperor in a dialogue with a Persian scholar on Christianity and Islam, Pope Benedict said "Show me just what Mohammed 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."
Yet, preceding this comment the Pope pointed out the "startling brusqueness," of the Emperor's words "which leaves us astounded."
Following the widespread condemnation of his remarks and protests throughout Muslim countries, the Pope issued an unusual apology to the Muslim world, stating "I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims."
Many Islamic clerics criticized the Pope for not going far enough in his apology, expressing their disappointment.