JLB
September 19th, 2006, 4:42:35 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/19/pope.defense.reut/index.html
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Western leaders and churchmen are trying to defuse the crisis over papal remarks about Islam as Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday faced a growing chorus of demands for an unequivocal apology.
Even President Bush got involved, saying Monday that the pope had been "sincere" when he said he was sorry to Muslims and that his words had been misunderstood.
But for many Muslims, Benedict's attempt to explain himself Sunday did not go far enough and observers were waiting to see if he would speak about it again at his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.
The pope enraged Muslims in a speech a week ago in Germany quoting 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said everything the Prophet Mohammed brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Western leaders and churchmen are trying to defuse the crisis over papal remarks about Islam as Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday faced a growing chorus of demands for an unequivocal apology.
Even President Bush got involved, saying Monday that the pope had been "sincere" when he said he was sorry to Muslims and that his words had been misunderstood.
But for many Muslims, Benedict's attempt to explain himself Sunday did not go far enough and observers were waiting to see if he would speak about it again at his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.
The pope enraged Muslims in a speech a week ago in Germany quoting 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said everything the Prophet Mohammed brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."