POPE SORRY FOR OFFENDING MUSLIMS
Pope Benedict XVI has apologized in person for causing offence to Muslims in a speech in Bavaria last week. He said the medieval text which he quoted did not express in any way his personal opinion, adding the speech was an invitation to respectful dialogue. Some Muslim leaders said his statement was sufficient to defuse the row, but others said it did not go far enough.
The 14th Century Christian emperor’s quote said the Prophet Muhammad brought the world only evil and inhuman things. Reaction was mixed in Turkey, although Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the Pope’s planned visit to the mainly Muslim country was still expected to go ahead in November. Turkey’s most senior Muslim religious figure, Ali Bardakoglu, welcomed the Pope’s statement, and described his respect for Islam as a “civilized position”. But State Minister Mehmet Aydin said the pontiff appeared to be saying he was sorry for the outrage but not necessarily the remarks themselves. “You either have to say this ‘I’m sorry’ in a proper way or not say it at all – are you sorry for saying such a thing or because of its consequences?” he said.
The Egyptian opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, welcomed what it called the Pope’s “retraction”, but later warned that it did not amount to a definitive apology and would not be enough to satisfy all Muslims.
In Germany, the Central Council of Muslims said the Pope had taken an important step towards calming the unrest of the past few days.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5353208.stm
Did Muslim leaders accept the Pope’s apologies?
