Pope Benedict XVI has apologised in person for causing offence to Muslims in a speech in Bavaria last week. He said the medieval text which he quoted did not express in any way his personal opinion, adding the speech was an invitation to respectful dialogue.
And if you believe that – from the man who, not so long ago, held a private meeting with the late unlamented Oriana “Muslims breed like rats” Fallaci – you’ll believe anything.
Furthermore, the pope’s words – “I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims” – fall some way short of a full apology.
Still, you’d have thought his statement that the offensive words he quoted – “Show me just what Muhammad 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” – did not in any way express his personal opinion about Islam would be enough to win il papa a citation at Dhimmi Watch.
For comments by Osama Saeed at Rolled Up Trousers, see here and here.