Pope Benedict XVI (left) shakes hands with Kuwait Ambassador to the Holy See Ahmad Abdulkareem Al-Ibraham at Castel Gandalfo, the pope's summer home in Rome, on Sept. 25.

The Roman Catholic leader hammered at his theme that religions have no room for violent extremists while also demanding "reciprocity" in religious freedom, a Vatican call for the rights of Christians throughout the Islamic world.

"The circumstances which have given risen to our gathering are well known," Benedict said Sept. 25, referring to his remarks on Islam in a Sept. 12 speech at Regensburg University, Germany, which set off protests around the Muslim world.

He did not dwell on the contested remarks, in which he had quoted words attributed to a 14th century Byzantine emperor: "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."

Benedict had already expressed regret for offending Muslims by his remarks and said they did not reflect his personal views, but he has not offered a complete apology as some had sought.

Still, his five-minute address at the formal meeting with 22 foreign diplomats and representatives of Italian Muslim organizations -- he greeted them one by one and clasped their hands warmly -- seemed to have been well received.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 30, 2006
(C) All rights reserved