Algerian scholar says he and pope discussed Islam, violence, faith

Published: 2006-11-13

ROME (CNS) -- Mustapha Cherif, an Algerian intellectual and promoter of Muslim-Christian dialogue, said he and Pope Benedict XVI spent half an hour discussing Islam, violence and the role of reason in faith. Cherif met the pope Nov. 11 at the Vatican, then contacted French news outlets in Rome to talk about the meeting, which was not listed on the pope's official schedule. Vatican officials would not comment on the meeting, although they made clear they would not deny it took place. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, Cherif said the pope listened to his arguments "with great attention" and that there had been "a real exchange" of opinions. Cherif said he had asked to meet Pope Benedict last spring after the pope named French Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, also to head the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

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