More on this story. "Pope meets with Muslims, urges better ties," by Frances D'emilio for the Associated Press, November 6:
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has told Muslim clergy and scholars that Christians and Muslims must overcome their misunderstandings. He is also urging freedom of worship for non-Muslims in the Islamic world.One for two: not too bad.
Benedict had invited Catholic and Muslim experts and religious figures to a three-day conference on the Vatican to bridge differences between the two religions. The pope met with the participants Thursday and told them he had followed the "progress" of their talks closely.The pope's baptism of a prominent Egyptian-born Muslim last Easter in St. Peter's Basilica upset some in the Muslim world. Benedict also angered Muslims with comments linking Islam to violence in a speech in 2006.
Benedict expressed regret for any offense caused by his 2006 remarks.
"Pope Benedict XVI has told Muslim clergy and scholars that Christians and Muslims must overcome their misunderstandings."
What part of "smite the infidels at their necks" do I misunderstand?
There are none so blind as those that will not see.
Muslims have a straight forward way of dealing with misunderstanding - they kill the misunderstanderers.
Then again they tend to kill or destroy anything that conflicts with the rantings of their so-called prophet.
This is 'Associated Press' reporting, let's not forget that.
I would like to see Il Papa's ipsissima verba, in their entirety, before I pass judgement.
Right now in the 21st century, the West is astronomically more powerful and advanced than the Muslim world -- technology, science, economics, education, and military power. The West has been more powerful than the Muslim world for centuries, but never more so than the 20th and 21st.
Yet the Pope has been behaving as though the West is weaker than Islam. Isn't that interesting?
The pope is "as wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove." Of course we all want to get over misunderstandings. Nothing is given away in this. Yet, the Pope knows that Islam's Achilles Heel is its unwillingness to allow religious freedom in Islamic lands. Read Truth and Tolerance by the Pope and then tell me he does not know what he's done. He's an exceptionally wise Pope and I believe he understands the dangers of Islam quite well.
He is not behaving in a weak manner, but rather a Christian manner. As for defending the West, that's not the Pope's job. His job is to defend Christianity. Our Church is global.
First, let me establish my bona fides, and imprimatur. I am a practicing Papist, Roman Catholic.
Second, The SS considered themselves the high priests of a religious order, not a military order. If The SS religion were as successful as the Muslims, would the Pope and the hand-wringing, guilt ridden Western press want to establish a non-judgemental dialogue with them? Would Himmler get an invite to Vatican, and a round of obsequious American talk shows? Judging by the recent sycophantic, craven response to CAIR and other groups, I think yes. After all, I'm sure there were moderate TotenKopf members. Just because they beleive in Mein Kampf, doesn't mean they believe in Mein Kampf.
Allah recited to Mohammad. Adolf, to Hess. At least Adolf never believed in abrogation take-backs, or misspeaks. Does this make him more trustworthy, and clear-headed, than Allah?
I wonder what the Pope makes of the Islamic claim that Jesus will return (in the end times) to deny "the lies" that he was crucified or the son of God.
Does the Pope know that, according to Islam, Jesus is a Muslim who will return to lead an Islamic army raised to kill all the Jews and Christians on the earth and leave all religion for Allah alone?
These facts seem like a slight obstacle to interfaith dialogue. Yet I'm sure Islam has already been offered tons of concessions, right?
Perhaps the pope knows that Christians will someday become a minority in the world if Islam keeps spreading. Therefore, he probably i trying to appeal to the Islamic world for greater religious tolerance while there are still Christians left to tolerate.
More people despise the old man in the pointy hat than they do the Islamic Jihad. It will be difficult for the Pope to defend against The Jihad, when factions within Christendom contrive against one another instead of the enemy at the gates.
Pope meets with Muslim' at the Vatican.
Ok. Here's how it went:
Pope: "Dear friends, let us unite our efforts, animated by good will, in order to overcome all misunderstanding and disagreements. Let us resolve to overcome past prejudices and to correct the often distorted images of the other, which even today can create difficulties in our relations."
Muslims: "These walls ain't high enough, AssHat. Give us all your nuns. Our hordes need some strange."
(Editor's Note: All translations are courtesty of www.ArabsAndAlliteration.com)
The Pope knows Islam. I think the comment above is correct regarding his tactical approach----putting pressure on Islamic governments to allow some degree of freedom of religion.
It is quite possible that the Jhhad threat is ultimately defeated through religous conversion, and not through physical power or even political philosophy.
The last Pope engaged the communist world in a dance that was hard to understand. A lot of what he said and did was indirect. He wanted to avoid things like marshal law being declared.
I think this Pope is playing with a similar playbook. Hopefully to the same result, although there is no Reagan or Thatcher on the world stage.
Heck, there isn't even a Kohl.