Pope Benedict XVI has said he is sorry that a speech in which he referred to Islam has offended Muslims. In a statement read out by a senior Vatican official, the Pope said he respected Islam and hoped Muslims would understand the true sense of his words.
Reading the statement, new Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said the Pope’s position on Islam was in line with Vatican teaching that the Church “esteems Muslims, who adore the only God”.
“The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers,” the statement said.
But Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said the statement did not go far enough and called on the pontiff to apologise in person.
“The Vatican Secretary of State says that the Pope is sorry because his statements had been badly interpreted, but there is no bad interpretation,” Abdel Moneim Abul Futuh, a senior official from the opposition party told AFP. [source]
Seriously, the brotherhood must be very bored these days with no protests scheduled before Ramadan. The pope should apologise himself on live TV and then tour the Muslim world to knock on every door and say he’s sorry, before converting of course. Give me a break. Can we please, for the love of God and all that is good and holy, move off of this.
If the brotherhood or any other group really wants to protest something how about Darfur? How about Iraq? How about Palestine? Finding things in our region to protest is not so difficult if one was so inclined.
I agree with you, there is no entertainment left in these clashes.
As if we need more mess!