The Pope offers olive branch to Islamic envoys

BY FREDDY GRAY
CATFIOLIC AND Muslim leaders have expressed a new optimism about relations between the two faiths aft= an emergency meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Islamic representatives this week.
Speaking to an audience of envoys from Muslim countries on Monday Benedict XVI not only repeated his "total and profound respect" for the Islamic faith, but also reiterated his opposition to violence in the name of God.
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, especially those concerning the defence and promotion of the dignity of the human person and of the rights ensuing from that dignity."
The Muslim delegates greeted the Pope's words wannly. Ahmad Fatima, representing the Iranian embassy to the Holy See, described the meeting as "a positive step".
He said: "The Pope emphasised key areas to reduce tension between Muslims and Christians and it is a great step."
Mr Fahima added that Catholic-Muslim relations could now develop following the uproar over the Pope's Regensburg address, in which the Pontiff quoted a 14thcentury Byzantine emperor. "We have to wait and see what will be the reaction from the Islamic world, but I think the situation will get better." he said.
Jesuit Fr Samir Khalil Samir, one of the Vatican's leading experts on Islam, said last week that the mood in the Vatican was upbeat following the initial furore against the Regensburg address.
He said that the Pope's speech would help improve dialogue because it was "a step forward in truth".
"In the Middle East we know we all believe in one God but we still have big problems, we Christians and Muslims," he said.
"When we say we want to build a church, they say no, even in Egypt. In Algeria it is forbidden to convert someone. The one who converted and the one who helped convert go to prison.
"The Islamic world is taking steps backwards, so we have to say, here is a problem. What are you doing about liberty and freedom of thought?"
It is thought Pope Benedict XVI may address these issues when he visits Turkey in November. The papal trip is still expected to take place, despite the considerable security threats posed by Islamists who want to kill the Pontiff for his Regensburg speech. Since his elevation to the pontificate Benedict XVI has repeatedly raised the theme of "recipmcity" — the idea that Islamic countries should grant Christians the same freedom to worship that Muslims have in western or Christian states.
On Monday Benedict XVI appealed again for Muslims and Christians to talk to each other. "As I underlined in Cologne last year, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Muslims and Christians cannot be reduced to an optional extra: 'it is in fact a vital necessity, on which a large part of our future depends' ."
The Pope spoke in French for about five minutes before greeting each participant, shaltbig their hands and exchanging a few words.
The Pope meets annually with the full diplomatic corps, yet Monday's hastily arranged session with Muslim envoys was an unprecedented step.
The unusual move has been interpreted as a sign of the urgency with which the Vatican wishes to calm the storm surrounding the Regensburg address.
"It was a vela/ positive meeting, and it could be more positive if we can consider this a starting point," said Sergio Yahe Pallavicini, one of about 20 representatives from Italy's Muslim associations.