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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Pope in Jordan stresses ŽŽdeep respectŽŽ for Islam
2009-05-09
[Al Arabiya Latest] Pope Benedict XVI underlined his "deep respect" for Islam on Friday in Jordan, on his first trip as pontiff to an Arab state, and stressed that religious freedom is a fundamental human right.

He also called the church a spiritual force that could contribute to progress in bringing about peace in the Middle East.

Speaking after a red carpet welcome from King Abdullah II and Queen Rania at Queen Alia Airport as he began his eight-day tour of the Holy Land amid strict security, the pope said he came to Jordan "as a pilgrim."

" The church is not a political force but a spiritual force which can contribute to the progress of the peace process in the Middle East "

Pope Benedict XVI
He said his visit "gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam."

The pope also called religious freedom "a fundamental human right."

"It is my fervent hope and prayer that respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of every man and woman will come to be increasingly affirmed and defended, not only throughout the Middle East, but in every part of the world," he said.

Posted by:Fred

#9  Islam did spread by the sword and the sword is the only thing which keeps people from leaving. Why else is it a Death sentence to leave Islam?

And what kind of pathetic excuse for a 'god' can't take a few cartoons?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2009-05-09 22:15  

#8  It's never enough for the rads..why try?

Jordanian clerics expressed disappointment that Pope Benedict XVI in an address to Muslim leaders on Saturday failed to offer a new apology for remarks seen as targeting Islam.

"We wanted him to clearly apologise," Sheikh


Yusef Abu Hussein, mufti of the southern city of Karak, told AFP after the pope's address in Amman's huge Al-Hussein Mosque."What the pope said (in 2006) about the Prophet Mohammed is untrue. Islam did not spread through the power of sword. It's a religion of tolerance and faith," Hussein said.
Posted by: hammerhead   2009-05-09 20:36  

#7  Dear Mr. XVI,

You are still an infidel pig.

Insh'allah,
Ahmed al-Anus
Posted by: Zorba Craising6734   2009-05-09 14:01  

#6  The very next thing they'll be telling us with a pic to prove it, is that..... a fighter pilot in a single-seat F-16 escort for Air Force One over NYC... also had a photo recce publicity mission.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-05-09 09:18  

#5  Don't expect the Western media to report more accurately. At least half the electorate is also much too fragile to be told the truth.
Posted by: Excalibur   2009-05-09 09:14  

#4  Ahh, OS, the wit and wisdom of Foghorn Leghorn. The Muslim psyche is much too fragile a thing to be told the truth.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2009-05-09 08:13  

#3  Does the Pope live in Vieanna again?
Posted by: newc   2009-05-09 02:14  

#2  That muffled squeaking sound you hear all 'round the world is bags of wet mice offended by the comparison.
Posted by: SteveS   2009-05-09 02:09  

#1  This is one of the most egregiously spinmeistered things I've seen in a while, outside of the Obama administration.


"his "deep respect" for Islam"

Umm. no. Al Aribiya should look at that carefully.

"my deep respect for the Muslim community"

Its the COMMUNITY, not Islam that has his respect.

"better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam"

Yep - but ONLY the virtues, not the many vices of Islam.

The Pope chooses his words VERY carefully and purposely in situations like that.

And note well the religious freedom - that means allowing people to LEAVE Islam, and allowing the free practice of something OTHER than Islam.

If this is the kind of crap the Arabs accept as "news reporting", then no wonder the region is filled with people that are about as sharp as a bag of wet mice.


Posted by: OldSpook   2009-05-09 00:47  

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