Pope Benedict XVI set off quite a firestorm last week by quoting a late-14th century description of Islam as “evil and inhumane.” When parts of the Islamic world responded with anti-Christian violence, he said he was “deeply sorry” over any hurt caused by his remarks.
That should be the end of this episode, but instead an Islamic group wants more of an apology and threatens to target all Christians living in the Gaza Strip, including attacks on churches and Christian-owned institutions and homes. Al-Qaeda in Iraq warned that its war against Christianity and the West will go on until Islam takes over the world.
Protests took place in South Asia and Indonesia. Demonstrators in southern Iraq burned an effigy of the Pope. And this week, an Italian nun was murdered in Somalia – an attack possibly linked to anger over the Pope’s remarks.
In its proper context, Benedict’s speech at the University of Regensberg in Germany actually denounced religious violence and suggested that reason should be a common ground for a “genuine dialogue of cultures and religions so urgently needed today.” He spoke of how Western science and philosophy had separated themselves from faith, leading to an increasing secularization of Europe.
But much of the Islamic world only heard him quoting Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus as 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.”
One columnist wrote that the uproar was “to some extent a case of ‘German professor meets sound-bite culture,’ with a phrase from a tightly wrapped academic argument shot into global circulation, provoking an unintended firestorm.”
The Pope, just 18 months into his papacy, should know that he needs to choose his words carefully. Wednesday, he said the emperor’s words don’t reflect his own views and he expressed “profound respect” for Muslims.
The uproar over his comments is reminiscent of the furor stoked earlier this year by Danish cartoons showing Muhammad as a suicide bomber. Radicals rushed to turn criticism to violence before moderate voices could prevail. They have stepped forward again. Hasyim Muzadi, head of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, had it right: “The Pope has apologized, and that’s enough, so let’s calm down,” he said. “If we remain furious, then the Pope will be proved correct.”
