German Chancellor Defends Pope against Muslim Anger

As Muslims continue to voice angry protest, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come out to defend the Pope after allegations he attacked Islam in a speech earlier this week

Pope Benedict XVI sparked fury among Muslim communities the world over after a speech on Tuesday in which he repeated criticism of the Prophet Mohammad by the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said everything Mohammad brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

|PIC1|The Pope, who used the terms "jihad" and "holy war" in his lecture, added "violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul".

Now Muslim leaders and clergy, as well as non-Muslim observers, continue to assail the Pope as they call for an apology in person.

"He should apologise to Muslims," the president of the German Council of Muslims, Ayyub Axel Koehler, told the German Neue Presse newspaper on Saturday. "That would be a contribution towards unwinding the tension and creating clarity."

Officials at the Vatican defended the Pope's comments, saying that he was attempting to demonstrate in his speech that there could never be any religious justification for violence.

In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Merkel reflected this view in her defence of the German-born Pontiff's comments.

The German chancellor said that Pope Benedict's comments had been misinterpreted, insisting that he had been calling for dialogue with other religions.

"Whoever criticises the Pope misunderstood the aim of his speech," Merkel was quoted as saying.

"It was an invitation to dialogue between religions and the Pope expressedly spoke in favour of this dialogue ... What Benedict XVI emphasised was a decisive and uncompromising renunciation of all forms of violence in the name of religion."

Koehler warned that the violent protests that broke out over the Mohammad cartoons could break out again following the Pope's comments.

"The indignation should not be allowed to escalate any further," he said, adding that violence will not be tolerated.
related articles
Christian-Muslim Dialogue Groups Seek Peace and Unity

Christian-Muslim Dialogue Groups Seek Peace and Unity

Pope Aims to Revive Christianity in Germany

Pope Aims to Revive Christianity in Germany

Sentamu Urges Muslims to 'Love Thy Neighbour'

Sentamu Urges Muslims to 'Love Thy Neighbour'

News
'The Light He Left Behind': Martin Scorsese unveils new documentary featuring final interview with Pope Francis
'The Light He Left Behind': Martin Scorsese unveils new documentary featuring final interview with Pope Francis

Acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese has announced a forthcoming documentary that will showcase the final on-camera interview with the late Pope Francis, capturing the pontiff’s enduring message of compassion, creativity, and cross-cultural dialogue.

5 things to know about Pope Leo XIV
5 things to know about Pope Leo XIV

Perhaps the most notable aspect of Prevost’s ascension to the papacy is his background.

Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, becomes first American pontiff
Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, becomes first American pontiff

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV and becoming the first American to hold the papacy.

How church bells rang again after the war
How church bells rang again after the war

In the UK church bells which had remained silent during the war, rang again on VE Day in 1945. This is the story …