what did the pope really say?

Question

Recently the pope had dilevered a speach where he quoted words from a Byzantine emperor. Many TV news networks, and news website had mentioned it and mentioned that he had anger Muslims all over the world. But I didn't find a copy of his speach. I want to know what did he say, and what was the point he was trying to make

Answer 1

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html
above is a link to the pope's speech, but i have pasted the part that got every one up in arms below. this text was taken from a 14th century letter to an emporer.



In the seventh conversation (διάλεξις - controversy) edited by Professor Khoury, the emperor touches on the theme of the holy war. The emperor must have known that surah 2, 256 reads: "There is no compulsion in religion". According to the experts, this is one of the suras of the early period, when Mohammed was still powerless and under threat. But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Qur'an, concerning holy war. Without descending to details, such as the difference in treatment accorded to those who have the "Book" and the "infidels", he addresses his interlocutor with a startling brusqueness, a brusqueness which leaves us astounded, on the central question about the relationship between religion and violence in general, saying: "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". The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. "God", he says, "is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably (σὺν λόγω) is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...".

Answer 2

The Pope apparently used the quote in a presentation to a group of scholars. This led the radical Islamists to pull a violent temper tantrum which not only is pointless, but really only proves Benedict's point.

Incidentally, though today's Islamists have twisted Mohammed's words to form a religious ideology totally out of sync with his original intent, the Pope was right--no religion can be called rational or humane which advocates forcing non-adherents into it's system; the murderous acts of the radical Muslim leadership are on a par with the Christian Crusaders of the Middle Ages, and just as wrongheaded.

The basis of any true religion is love, not hate.

Answer 3

Here's a link to the official English translation of the speech. The controversy comes from some lines that were quoted pretty egregiously out of context.

Answer 4

He was comparing reason vs faith and quoted the Byzantine king who was comparing a statement of Mohamed " there is no complulsion in Religion" against the Quran's 'Holy War' verse.

Answer 5

He quoted a 14th century emperor Manuel II Palaeologus who said that the prophet Mohammd, brought only things evil and inhuman to life.
Sticks and stones and all that . Grow up the lot of ya, I don't get it at all as i'm not religious. But it's like my cars bigger than your car!

Answer 6

he was trying to convey to the world, that muslims are peace loving people

Answer 7

he made a quote and they cryed

Answer 8

I want to know too...