ROME, April 16, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – An Italian cartoon depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in hell, has drawn rebuke from Muslim leaders in the southern European country and an influential Catholic conservative group.

"With all the efforts made in the Christian and Muslim worlds for inter-faith dialogue, there are nevertheless always minorities that inflame things and cause provocations," Hamza Roberto Piccardo, an official of the Union of Italian Muslim Communities, was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

A drawing in the March issue of Studi Cattolici, a magazine reportedly close to the influential Opus Dei group, shows Italian poets Dante Alighieri and Virgil on the edge of a circle of flames looking down on the Prophet, whose body is cut in half down, according to a description by the Italian news agency (ANSA).

"Isn't that Muhammad?" Virgil is shown asking. "Yes, and he's cut in two because he has brought division to society," Dante replies.

Mario Scialoja, of the Italian chapter of the World Muslim League, criticized the cartoon's "extreme bad taste."

There are some 1.5 million Muslims in Italy, the country's fastest-growing immigrant population.

Islam is the least represented of the monotheistic faiths in Rome’s corridors of power.

Unlike Judaism, Buddhism and some Protestant denominations, Islam is not officially recognized by the state.

"We consider it deplorable that this cartoon should appear in a magazine that has the name Catholic in its title," said Carroggio.

Abu Bakr Qidwa, the chairman of the Muslim League in Italy, said Italian Muslims would seek an explanation from the Catholic Church.

"We will meet as soon as possible with Catholic leaders to know the official stand of the church over this cartoon to determine our future action," he told IslamOnline.net.

"The cartoon, which was published by this obscure magazine, in no way indicates a widespread drive against Islam nationwide, though every now and then Islam comes under a vile attack."

Opus Dei, which was founded in 1928, has been a personal prelature of the Catholic Church since 1982.

Personal prelatures are part of the jurisdictional, hierarchical structure of the Church and exist to carry out specific pastoral missions.

On 28 November 1982, late Pope John Paul II declared Opus Dei as a personal prelature of international scope.

Pope Benedict XVI had strongly criticized the publication of twelve Danish cartoons ridiculing Prophet Muhammad, which strained relations between the Muslim world and Denmark.

Cattolici editor Cesare Cavalleri, a Opus Dei member, defended the cartoon, saying it was inspired by Dante.

"Sometimes a politically incorrect satirical cartoon can do some good. It's only a reference to a passage in (Dante's) Divine Comedy."

However, the Catholic conservative group has blasted the drawing and distanced itself from the magazine.

"We consider it deplorable that this cartoon should appear in a magazine that has the name Catholic in its title," Marc Carroggio, Rome Office of Communications, said in a press release posted on the group's website.

"Its publication shows a lack of sensitivity and Christian charity."

Although the statement made it clear Opus Dei has no responsibility for the magazine, it sought "forgiveness for the offense given."

The Catholic group also expressed solidarity with the Muslim communities of Italy and the world and urged harmony, tolerance, and understanding.

"Religions and their symbols should be respected and religious sensibilities should not be subjected to ridicule."