Khatami says religious leaders must heal Catholic-Muslim wounds

Published: 2007-05-04

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said religious leaders have an obligation to God to begin healing the wounds in Catholic-Muslim relations, including those caused by Pope Benedict XVI's September remarks about Islam. "Meeting the pope cannot heal all these wounds, but at least we are making an effort to begin," said Khatami, speaking May 4 at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University immediately before meeting Pope Benedict at the Vatican. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the pope and Khatami spent 30 minutes speaking privately in the papal audience. Khatami also met separately with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state. The conversations highlighted "the importance of a serene dialogue between cultures aimed at overcoming the serious tensions that mark our time and at promoting a fruitful collaboration in the service of peace and the development of all peoples," said a Vatican statement.

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