did the pope say anything wrong?

Question

He was just saying his opinion, thats all whats wrong with that? We let the Muslim community in the UK have there say. And also why did the Muslims complain about whtat the pope said outside a church of England.....He is Catholic!

Answer 1

Pope Benedict XVI. Talk about Chutzpah!

Famously, the then Cardinal Ratzinger once referred to Buddhism as a form of masturbation for the mind - a remark still repeated among deeply offended Buddhists more than a decade after he said it. Even his apology to Muslims at the weekend managed to bring Jews into the row.

The Irony and hypocrisy is the Catholic Church was also happily spreading the "true faith" by the sword at the same time this quote was made. And had been doing so for centuries, for example the 1st Crusade earlier in 1096.

Spreading the Faith by the Sword was the philosophy that created the Inquisition in which Muslims and Jews were killed and driven out of Catholic kingdoms in Spain and Portugal after the Christian re-conquests. Do note that Muslims did not have any exclusive copyright over the use of the term "infidel."

Isn't this a case of "the kettle calling the pot black".

Another irony, the empire of Roman Emperor Manuel Palaeologos was fatally weakened not by the Muslims, but two centuries earlier by the Pope and Catholic Church who instigated the 4th Crusade in 1204. But half way to the Holy Land, they had a change of plan, and decided to attack the Eastern Roman Empire, massacre Orthodox Christians with the sword and sack Constantinople instead of putting Muslims and Jews to the sword. This event is one of the three milestones in the demise of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.

Another point the quote Pope Benedict chose is totally bogus and dubious. Emperor Manuel Palaeologos was fighting for the political survival of his pathetic empire, and was politically motivated in his statement. The "erudite" Emperor Manuel contrived a "debate" to suit his political argument. The learned "prominent" Persian poet and scholar Manuel is meant to have had this "debate" with is totally bogus and does not exist. Historical research knows of no such person. Why is the name of the Persian unknown for such a prominent poet and scholar in an otherwise such well recorded historical "debate"???

I am sure Pope Benedict, a supposedly learned scholar - whose previous job until last year was in charge of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (the successor body to the Inquisition) when he was then known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - knew the quote was from a bogus "debate".

I in no way condone the response of Muslim fanatics and hotheads - burning churches, and murdering Nuns. They just bring shame and discredit on their faith and themselves. Ironically - although it is lost on these fanatic hotheads - through their actions they help to reinforce stereotypes about the very thing they have taken offence at - namely saying that Islam is a violent and intolerant religion.

I understand the quote was taken out of context in Pope Benedict's speech. But never the less, I think it is shocking that a man who is the Spiritual head of a community of over 1 Billion souls, chose this clearly inflammatory passage, when he could have chosen something far more conciliatory, constructive and uncontroversial to make the same point about faith and reason, and the incompatibility of violence and religion without giving any excuse that he had insulted Islam. Something from the Bible for example.

A man of Pope Benedict's experience must have known this quote was inflamatory when he chose to include it, and that one of the consequences would be to fuel a violent Muslim reaction. Any fool could have told him the same. Pope Benedict had the hindsight of the experience of the Danish Cartoons episode. I can only conclude he has been wilfully mischievous.

Pope Benedict has also now insulted the Jews, it has been reported. In another speech shortly after his infamous Regensburg Rally, he said "Christians worshipped the cross because of the folly of the Jews and ignorance of Pagans and Gentiles." In an address of March 16, 2006, Pope Benedict said Jews must Convert to Christianity in order to be Saved.

From The Guardian: "Even worse, in his Auschwitz address, he managed to argue in a long theological exposition that the real victims of the Holocaust were God and Christianity. As one commentator put it, he managed to claim that Jews were "themselves bit players - bystanders at their own extermination. The true victim was a metaphysical one." This theological treatise bears the same characteristics as last week's Regensburg lecture; put at its most charitable, they are too clever by half."

But don't worry Jews can take it. I promise you we will not burn down any churches or murder any nuns.

The Guardian says "In the perceived clash between the West and the Muslim world - the Pope seems to have abdicated his papal role of arbitrator, and taken up arms in a rerun of a medieval fantasy."

"An elderly Catholic nun has already been killed in Somalia, in retaliation for the Pope's remarks; churches have been attacked in the West Bank. How is this papal stupidity going to play out in countries such as Nigeria, where the tensions between Catholics and Muslims frequently flare into riots and death? Or other countries such as Pakistan, where Catholic communities are already beleaguered? Or the Muslim minorities in Catholic countries such as the Philippines - how comfortable do they feel this week?"

"Two lines of thought emerge from this mess. The first is that the Pope's personal authority has been irrevocably damaged; how now could he ever present himself as a figure of global moral authority and a peacemaker after this?"

"The second is a more disturbing possibility: namely, that the Catholic church could be failing - yet again - to deal with the challenge of modernity."

For a Spiritual leader, Pope Benedict appears to have intellectual knowledge without spiritual substance and wisdom. He has been irresponsible and insensitive, and looked foolish especially when people are killed as a result of his thoughtless actions and decisions. Not Infallible to me.

Pope John Paul tried to build bridges between faiths and peoples.

Pope Benedict, however, seems intent on burning them. Hasn't the world got enough hatred and troubles without further enflaming the fires in these violent times.

Answer 2

Well, you have to remember that the Pope isn't a person, but an entity, a person with great influence. He can't make (careless) statements like that and expect it to not have any backlash.

His statements, which he was quoting someone else, basically called the religion of Islam as 'teachers of evil and violence'. There is a reason to be offended by that remark. Hell, the Vatican launcehd a massive campaign when a The Da Vinci Code, and The Passion of the Christ were released, and those were fictious movies! If the Vatican can get their panties in a bunch over a Hollywood movie, sure enough ppl can get offended when an insitution like the Pope saying something moronic like what he said.

True the outburst basically proved the Pope's point, but that's besides the fact. The Pope *should* appologize and mean it. BTW, he didn't apologize for what he said, he aplogized for the reaction and the outburts...two totally different things

Answer 3

I m muslim and i m respectful to all other religions which believe in God but I dont care about pope. Who is pope and how can he be sacred by the choice of a selection committee? He can be an important man only for the Christians. Only Moses, Jesus and the last Mohammed(s.a.v.) are the sacred human by the choice of Allah as u know.

Well, the pope said true or wrong. Think about the ignorant and uneducated religious people in the world, normally but unfortunately they have been provoked by his speech. Of corz everyone is free to say the ideas but some important men as pope must be more carefuly.

In my opinion, he said his idea definitely to provoke the muslim people and unfortunately he succeed.

I think "Jihad" is of corz unnecessary for his stupid speech.

Answer 4

Actually he wasn't even stating his opinion. He was reading from a centuries old document written by another pope. He probably didn't say anything wrong. He also didn't display any skills in diplomacy. Then his apology was worded such that he said he was sorry folks got upset rather than saying he was sorry he read the document in his speech. It is an unfortunate lapse in diplomatic skills and awareness of the present world situation that destroyed a lot of the bridges built by the last pope.

Answer 5

I don't agree with what he said but aside from that. He should have known that it would cause upset. Do you remember when Tony Blair said that the reason he went to war in Iraq was because as a Christian he felt he should It was silly to say this. I am not a religious person and would never Deny someone the right to believe in something. But what gives one religious group the right to criticise another. The only time you can stand up and say what you are doing it wrong, is when other people are getting hurt, by the groups actions. Terrorists are not religious people they are merely hiding behind religion to cause friction between people and create unrest.

Answer 6

No.. he did not say anything wrong.. He only quoted from old documents.. But one of the many things that people have to look out for is... The terrorists are looking for A N Y T H I N G to cause trouble.. They are looking for anything to bring about an Islamic war. They are looking for anything to bring on the Armageddon. The president of Iran is behind it all because he wants the prophesied holy war to begin NOW and that is what stupid world leaders do not understand.. There is NO possibility for negotiations because the president of Iran wants the Armageddon NOW

Answer 7

Actually if you read the entire speech, the quote isn't even his opinion but an excerpt from a debate. The point being that we need to be open to have debates like this in the future. So, in context, it is really nothing to worry about.

Answer 8

He was not expressing his opinion, he was quoting someone else's opinion. Why should the Pope apologise for what some 14th century Emperor said? And if the Pope was offensive by quoting someone else, exactly how offensive is it to burn someone's effigy and call for them to be killed?

Answer 9

I stand by the Popes statement and will back the religious leader of my church!If he calls for a holy war against the infidels so be it on there heads!

Answer 10

No.. and ...what kind of unstable person wants to kill someone and run out onto the street and burn effigies and flags over a comment someone made about some character in the 7th Century.. I don't think they could be Law abiding peaceful people.. I think they should be jailed..or put in a mental institution.