 |
The pope expressed his "esteem and profound respect" for Muslims, but failed to apologize for his offensive anti-Islam speech. (Reuters) |
CASTELGANDOLFO, Italy — Pope Benedict XVI met on Monday September 25, with Muslim envoys over the controversy sparked by his recent remarks on Islam, but make no apology, drawing an immediate rebuke from the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS).
"I should like to reiterate today all the esteem and the profound respect that I have for Muslim believers," the pontiff told ambassadors and charge d'affaires from 22 Muslim countries, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
In his speech, delivered in French and made available by the Vatican in Arabic, the pope made repeated references to the need for dialogue between faiths.
"We are in great need of an authentic dialogue ... to overcome all the tensions together," he said.
"I am profoundly convinced that in the current world situation it is imperative that Christians and Muslims engage with one another in order to address the numerous challenges that present themselves to humanity."
Pope Benedict has triggered international criticism after quoting criticism of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who wrote that everything Muhammad brought was evil and inhuman, "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Coming short of a clear apology, the pontiff said the Muslim reaction to his statements was the result of "unfortunate misunderstanding" and that the quotes did not reflect his personal opinion.
Benedict said he had called the meeting to "strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity" between the Vatican and Muslim communities.
After his address, the pope shook hands and exchanged a few words with the envoys.
Dissatisfied
|
| "We might declare an end to interfaith dialogue pending a change in the Vatican," said Awwa. |
Some of the attending envoys expressed satisfaction with the meeting.
"I think it is time to put what happened behind us and build bridges among all the civilizations," said Iraqi Ambassador Albert Yelda.
He, yet, defended the massive Muslim anger over the pontiff's words.
"Many Muslims around the world were offended," Yelda said. "They expressed their feelings and they were right to do so. They demonstrated anger. Everybody has a right to express his feeling".
The meeting and the pope's words on dialogue failed to satisfy the influential Dublin-based IUMS, which brings together prominent Sunni and Shiite scholars from across the world.
"The meeting did not bring about anything new," Mohamed Selim el-Awwa, IUMS Secretary-General, told the Doha-based Al-Jazeera channel.
"We expected the pontiff to signal readiness to remove the anti-Islam quotes from the text of the lecture, which he failed to do."
Awwa insisted on the need for a clear-cut apology from the pope and the removal of the controversial quotes from the text of his lecture, considered a Vatican document.
"We would be announcing within a few days a new position with respect to our relation with the Vatican.
"We have already announced a halt to inter-faith dialogue with the Vatican but might move to declare an end to such a dialogue pending a change in the Vatican."
The IUMS has cancelled an Islamic-Christian summit slated for November or December.
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood also blasted Monday's meeting.
"This is another attempt to avoid the issue of apology," Muslim Brotherhood deputy leader Mohammed Habib told AFP.
"When you quote something like that, you must analyze it and either show objection or agreement with these comments."
Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni worldhas snubbed a papal invitation to visit the Vatican and a proposal to invite the pontiff to deliver a lecture on Islam, insisting on a clear-cut apology from Pope Benedict XVI.
|
