Vatican tries to reassure Muslims from UN podium
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Vatican tries to reassure Muslims from UN podium
By Howard Goller
Reuters
Wednesday, September 27, 2006; 4:51 PM
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Vatican used the stage of the United
Nations on Wednesday to try to make amends for remarks by Pope Benedict
that drew fury from Muslims worldwide.
Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, governor of Vatican City, told the
192-member U.N. General Assembly that the pope had voiced sadness at
the possible misinterpretation of quotes linking Muslims and violence.
"His real intention was to explain that 'not religion and violence, but
religion and reason go together,' in the context of a critical vision
of a society which seeks to exclude God from public life," Lajolo said.
The pope, 79, has faced persistent criticism despite four attempts to
make amends, without actually apologizing directly, for a speech he
gave on September 12 in his native Germany.
His last effort was in Italy on Monday when he spoke to diplomats from
some 20 Muslim countries plus leaders of Italy's own Muslim community.
In New York, foreign ministers of the 56-member Organization of the
Islamic Conference, meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly,
had urged the pope to "retract or redress" the comments.
Benedict enraged Muslims two weeks ago by quoting 14th century
Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said everything the
Prophet Mohammad brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the
sword the faith he preached."
The Muslim foreign ministers said in a statement on Tuesday they feared
the pope's language might engender tension between the Muslim world and
the Vatican.
Lajolo, who only 12 days ago stepped down as Vatican foreign minister,
said: "It falls to all interested parties -- to civil society as well
as to states -- to promote religious freedom and a sane, social
tolerance that will disarm extremists even before they can begin to
corrupt others with their hatred of life and liberty."
The pope is facing the toughest international crisis since his election
in April 2005 -- and, despite praise from some prominent Muslims -- the
severity of some reactions has raised doubts about his planned trip to
Turkey in November.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan again criticized the pope on
Wednesday, saying even a politician would not have spoken in such a way.