Why did Pope John Paul II kiss the Koran?

Question

I know this is old news, but I'm truly interested.
Is kissing a holy book a sign of respect in muslim cultures?
Did the Muslim community kiss the Pope's Bible?
Is it considered a sign of lack of faith to Catholics?
(I'm not catholic)

If the Pope went to a Gnostic church would he Kiss their scriptures as a sign of respect?

Answer 1

It is always a pleasure to answer those who truely want to know why and what! and for that, I thank you.

John Paul II was a kind of man who would forgive a man who wanted to kill him. Pope John Paul II went to the prison where the man who wanted to kill him was imprisoned, and face to face, talked to him, and forgive him for the trying to kill him. He was a man of Peace, and wanted to bring people togther in Love and understanding. He was loved and still loved by many, not only by the Catholics. In his funeral, many people from many differents faiths came to his funeral, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Shias and Sunis, because of who he was, a true man of God.

And now, for your question. He kissed it as a show of respect to the muslim people. To respect their book of faith, is showing respect to the people as well. kissing the Koran is a show of respect to the muslims, and the muslims letting him to kiss it, is a show of respect to the Pope John Paul II. Muslims consider non believers as unholy, unclean, thus they are not permitted to touch it, let alone kiss it. That event was show of respect on both parts, the Christians and the Muslims.

I don't know if the Muslim did kiss the Pope's Bible, and I don't think they will.

It is a sign of love and respect, to treat each others and their faith with respect doesn't mean disrespect to ones own faith, but the proof of what Jesus Christ teaching, to love one another as the lord loves us all.

Personally, I didn't care for what he did, because of some of the things in the Koran, such as their believes about Jesus Christ, and who he was. I would give it respect, I will not burn it as the muslims did in Egypt and other places, I wouldn't use it as a papers and toss it in the garbage as they do to the Bible, but that is me. The problem with his kiss is that the Pope appear trying to hard to please all people to come together, and be as one, and that is not matched by the other side. Saudi Arabia to the day will not permit anything that is not islamic to enter the country, inculding the Bible, they will never kiss it, and will toss it in the shredder if one try to bring it into the country, as if just the presence of the book in the country is going to convert the country into Christianity.

"The Patriarch of the Chaldeans tells us the intention of John Paul II in kissing the Muslim book, It was not to show acceptance of this book, the kiss was to show his "aware of the suffering of the Iraqi people" and his respect for the Muslims of Iraq. Unlike most of Muslim nations, Iraq (at the time) had, like us, the separation of Church and State. This meaning that in the predominantly Muslim Iraq Christians were granted the freedom to worship publicly."

The Pope, may he rest in peace, did more damage to the Christian than fixed things with that kiss. If you heard what happened in their mosques afterward, you will understand, that his PC didn't bring people together, but widen the gap even more.

Answer 2

First off: "Is it considered a sign of lack of faith to Catholics?"

Well, to some of the more "pharisaic" so-called "catholics," it is.

As a devout Catholic who greatly revered Pope John Paul II, & saw the Influence the Holy Spirit Had on him, it's not for me.

Whenever Pope John Paul II went abroad somewhere, the first thing he would always do, when he'd get off the plane, was to bend down & kiss the ground that he was visiting.

Pope John Paul II was a guest in the particular mosque where he kissed this book. Therefore, it was his way of showing cordial respect to his hosts(much like when a guest greets his/her host with a kiss on the cheek).

Answer 3

Why did Pope John Paul II kiss the Koran? Its a form of catholicism hypocrisy (inside, and to God); and a form of respecful (outside, and to muslims)

I know this is old news, but I'm truly interested.
Is kissing a holy book a sign of respect in muslim cultures? to muslim, yes

Did the Muslim community kiss the Pope's Bible? In conservative counties like Saudi Arabia, if you will be caught bringing your Bible you will be imprison or interrogated.

[thanks to internet and satellite communications facilities it greatly help us propagating the gospel in the middle east countries]

Is it considered a sign of lack of faith to Catholics?
(I'm not catholic) yes, but everyone should consider the fact that catholicism is not christianity.

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Answer 4

According to the following eyewitness, the Pope kissed the Koran as a sign that he had a great respect for Islam and that he was aware of the suffering of the Iraqi people.

The Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq, Raphael I Bidawid is the spiritual guide of the majority of Iraq's one million Christians -- who still celebrate their liturgy in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus.

Raphael I Bidawid, Patriarch of the Chaldeans told in an interview:

“On May 14th I was received by the Pope, together with a delegation composed of the Shiite imam of Khadum mosque and the Sunni President of the council of administration of the Iraqi Islamic Bank. At the end of the audience the Pope bowed to the Muslim holy book the Koran presented to him by the delegation and he kissed it as a sign of respect. The photo of that gesture has been shown repeatedly on Iraqi television and it demonstrates that the Pope is not only aware of the suffering of the Iraqi people, he has also great respect for Islam.”

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

I really don't understand why the pope, or the catholic church does much of what it does. But I do know that many priests often kiss there bibles. I think its a sign of respect, or odd sort of love thing. I mean they do molest little boys.

Answer 6

He was saying that ALL scriptures, not just his own, have value & deserves respect. Pope JPII also blessed the Dalai Lama, another great man of tolerance & understanding. I think if more people believed as these two gentlemen that all spiritual beliefs have value, the whole world would be better off.

Answer 7

Kissing the Koran is a slap in the face to Holy Bible and God

Answer 8

some might say this, however the final public of Muslims share ideals that are plenty greater in accord with Catholicism that are those of the Jews, or many protestant communities. possibly the Pope became into basically a solid and dazzling fellow who became into unafraid to make formidable, provocative gestures ... even on the prospect of now and back being misunderstood ... style of like Jesus ... while he dined with sinners ... or while he stood against people who needed to stone the adulterous woman.

Answer 9

Roman Catholics worship the same village god that the muslims do!
Article # 841 of the New RC Catehism says so!
~~~~~~~~~~~`
The total thought of the Qurán is summed up in;

Qurán 9:5
""The Verse of the Sword""
"" Fight and slay the pegans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem""

This shows the LOVE and PEACE that this book and islam is all about!

Answer 10

because many things in the catholic belief are similiar to islam and many thing written in the quran are similar to which in the bible which the pope believes. muslims believe some of the things written in the bible there are many similarities. there is this website its pretty cool check it out http://www.watchislam.com/videos/index.php?catid=-1