Pope adds explanatory note to controversial remarks on Islam

Published: 2006-10-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has added an explanatory note to his controversial remarks on Islam, saying the text provoked misinterpretation and "understandable indignation" among Muslims. The explanation appeared Oct. 9 in a footnote in the Vatican's online version of the speech on faith and reason given by the pope in Regensburg, Germany, in mid-September. In his speech, the pope spoke briefly about religion and violence, quoting the 14th-century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus, who said: "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." In the new footnote, the pope re-emphasized a point he has made several times since delivering the speech -- that he did not share the emperor's views on Islam.

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