Pope Meets with Islamic Leaders, Floats Like Butterfly, Stings Like Bee
Published September 25, 2006
The Pope met today with ambassadors to the Vatican from 21 predominantly Islamic countries at his residence near Rome in an attempt to assuage lingering anger over remarks he made in a speech earlier this month.
At today's gathering, the pontiff beat quite diplomatically around the bush of contention, expressing "total and profound respect" for Islamic believers, but he did not directly apologize for his earlier statements, nor did he retract them.
In fact, he seemed to back off a bit from apologetic statements he made last week about the flap.
What's next? "Pope denies denying denial"?
The reality is this: the Pope's comments against Islamic violence generated more Islamic violence, including the killing of an Italian nun in Somalia, attacks on Christian churches in Palestinian territories, and angry demonstrations across the lands of Islam, leaving the proof of the matter rather starkly in the pudding.
It is this unavoidable gorilla in the mosque that lends some integrity to Pope Benedict XVI's unmistakable refusal to retract the comments made in the September 12 speech on faith and reason at the University of Regensburg.
In that speech he quoted a 14th-Century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, saying, "'Show me just what Muhammad 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.'"
The Pope then explained, "The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. 'God,' he says, 'is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats.'"
Last week, the Pope claimed he had been misunderstood, that his quotation had been taken out of context, that his real intention had been to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do," and that the words of Manuel II Paleologos did not reflect his personal opinion - at least the part about Islam being only "evil and inhuman," one would imagine.
He also said, "I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims." But, he never apologized for the remarks themselves, nor did he do so when he met with the envoys today.
Last week he concluded, "I hope this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with mutual respect."
A wish to "appease hearts" and an invitation to continued dialogue is not the same thing as "I'm okay, you're okay." Benedict still clearly believes he has some bones to pick with Islam.
Today, his words of respect were borrowed from the Second Vatican Council of 1965, "'The Church looks upon Muslims with respect. They worship the one God living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to humanity and to whose decrees, even the hidden ones, they seek to submit themselves whole-heartedly, just as Abraham, to whom the Islamic faith readily relates itself, submitted to God.'"
- Pope Meets with Islamic Leaders, Floats Like Butterfly, Stings Like Bee
- Published: September 25, 2006
- Type: News
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Politics: Law and Rights, Politics: International, Culture: Society, Culture: Religion
- Writer: Eric Olsen
- Eric Olsen's BC Writer page
- Eric Olsen's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Wow, reading your religious, geo-political posts are like reading a "World Politics for Dummies" books, it makes complicated and sophisticated matters understandable and easily appreciated.
I meant all that in a good way.
Helena, two points, respect for another religion is not the same thing as believing in that religion so I'm not suer how that could be blasphemous; but you are right, he said "respect for believers" so I have changed it. Thanks.
Thanks Dawn, I haven't done anything like this for a while. It kind of hurt my brain.
Eric,
I'm with Dawn [figuratively speaking].
This was a nice summary of all relevant events. Good stuff, and you know how rare it is for me to compliment someone around here : ]
Now, to my main Sharkian point:
1) The Pope is a pussy; he should have stuck to his guns; if he had any real integrity, he would have slipped a gas mask outta his vestments and turned on the friggin' Zyklon B gas. Whoa! There goes 21 Islamic leaders! ONLY 1.2 BILLION TO GO!
~BUT THE DAY IS YOUNG!
2) re. "...Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly..."
Well, let's make that JUST 'SPEAK WELL'.
Proper reasoning ain't for the Faithful.
"upset millions of Roman Catholics,"
Hey, I'm one in a million, but I'm not upset.
"The Pope is a pussy;"
Hey wait, I'm one of millions and now I AM UPSET.
Shark, you are going to end up in Flash of light.
thanks Shark, I will endeavor to wrap my fevered brain around other issues requiring thought and research and stuff.
Regarding the Valentine's Day Massacre approach, I think this Pope is more passive-aggressive
Honestly! Nobody could conscientiously quibble with the theme of the speech, and I doubt anyone would have quibbled with the Pope mentioning a Byzantine emperor who had frowned on the role of violence in spreading the Islamic faith as a rhetorical example for his argument.
But then he trots out the quote in its entirety when he really doesn't need to at all for his argument, so that the world hears "everything Islam brought to the Judeo/Christian idea of God is violent and inhuman" coming out of the Pontiff's mouth.
Passive/aggressive! Of course! You've hit the sweet spot of the matter. I KNEW there was a reason I was so annoyed.
I'm glad he didn't apologise; i'd actually have been disappointed if he had. i didn't find nything wrong from his first remarks, except the fact that the muslims got all violent about it (irony!!).
from the article, Olsen here seems to have a great disliking toward catholics (or rather just the pontiff himself).
I don't like Bernie 'The Rat' very much, m'self.
I'd be passive-aggressive too if I wore 700 dollar Prada loafers. Excuse the flippant aside; I just find it astounding Pope can afford those. I don't think I've spent that much on shoes in my lifetime (and I'm - shock, horror - a twenty-something female! We're stereotypically known for being obsessed with shoe shopping).
Snarkattack: as the leader of one of the three most efficient (and tax exempt!) scams businesses in terms of separating people and their money, I'm pretty sure the Pope can afford to wear whatever brands he likes!
I can well imagine, dear Comments Editor. It shouldn't shock me, but it does. He does have good taste - I saw a photo of said Pope wearing these sartorial relics and they were quite snappy.
Shame one can't actually see them under the robes when he's standing up (the photo was of him seated)!
Depends on the pope: John XXIII of sainted memory & JP I were extremely modest in their lifestyles, just about monkish; Bernie the Rat from what I've read/heard has always been of the opinion that as a Prince of the church, he should live accordingly, i.e. on a princely scale.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/53426)
Hi
I know this may sound a little petty, however, your headline "Pope has respect for Islam' isn't quite what our Holy Father stated. he actually stated 'respect for Muslim believers'and rightly so!. For the Pope to publicly state respect for Islam itself is a blasphemous statement to millions of Roman Catholics across the world, as Islam denies the divinity of Christ. I know this sounds like splitting hairs, but I'm sure that headline may have upset a large number of Catholics who have read it.
I am pretty sure your intention isn't to upset millions of Roman Catholics, but I thought I would point this out to you
Regards, Helena