Pope Meets Muslim Diplomats

Benedict XVI Tells Officials From 21 Countries That Future Depends On Dialogue

(CBS/AP)  Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim diplomats Monday that "our future" depends on good relations between Christians and Muslims as he sought to put to rest anger over his recent remarks about Islam and violence.

The pontiff also quoted from his predecessor, John Paul II, who had close relations with the Muslim world, calling for "reciprocity in all fields," including religious freedom.

Benedict spoke in French to a roomful of diplomats from 21 countries and the Arab League in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

After his five-minute speech, in a salon in the papal palace in the Alban Hills, Benedict, greeted each envoy one by one. He clasped their hands warmly and chatted for a few moments with each of the diplomats.

"The circumstances which have given risen to our gathering are well known," Benedict said, referring to his remarks on Islam in a Sept. 12 speech at Regensburg, Germany. He did not dwell on the contested remarks, which set off protests around the Muslim world.

Iraq's ambassador to the Holy See said that Benedict's address to the envoys should end to the anger over the pontiff's remarks on Islam and violence.

"The Holy Father stated his profound respect for Islam. This is what we were expecting," said Iraqi envoy Albert Edward Ismail Yelda as he left the half-hour long meeting. "It is now time to put what happened behind and build bridges."

When the protests started flaring, Benedict offered deep regrets for offense felt by Muslims and insisted his remarks did not reflect his own opinion and were misunderstood. He stopped short of a full apology that some Muslim leaders demanded.

Speaking in Germany, Benedict quoted the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith."
Addressing the diplomats, he did say that Christians and Muslims must work together to "guard against all forms of intolerance and to oppose all manifestations of violence."

He said he arranged the meeting to "strengthen the bonds of friendship" between both sides, but he did offer any analysis of the controversial passage, which came in a speech exploring faith and reason.