Anger spread across the Muslim world today at remarks made last Tuesday by Pope Benedict XVI in an address to scientists at the University of Regensburg, where he was a professor and vice rector from 1969 to 1971. (Bernama; Investors Business Daily.) The Pope titled his address "Faith, Reason and the University" (full text). In his remarks, the Pope decried the use of force, rather than reason, to convert individuals to a particular religious belief. In making his point, the Pope referred to statements made in 1391 by Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus, who, in debating an "educated Persian" on the subject of Islam and Christianity, 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."
Pakistan's Parliament unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Pope's remarks, and in Turkey a leader in the Prime Minister's party said the Pope would go down in history with leaders like Hitler and Mussolini for his remarks. (The Independent.) The Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood said Islamic countries should consider breaking diplomatic relations with the Vatican unless the remarks are withdrawn. (ITV.) In response, the Vatican issued a statement, saying that the Pope wishes to "cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward other religions and cultures, obviously toward Islam too.... What is at the Pope's heart is a clear and radical refusal of the religious motivation of violence."
