The Popes Statement

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FOXNEWS.COM home WORLD EUROPE Pope Says He's 'Deeply Sorry' for Reaction to Islam Speech Sunday, September 17, 2006 PHOTOS VIDEO PHOTO ESSAYS Click image to enlarge Photo Essays:•Muslim Leaders Decry Pope's CommentsSTORIES LINKS •Christian Leader Joins Muslims in Denouncing Pope's Remarks•Vatican Stops Short of Apology as Muslim Leaders Decry Comments•Pope Protesters Firebomb 4 West Bank Churches, Open Fire at Fifth•Religious Leaders Across Mideast Rage Against Pope's Comments on Islam•Pope Benedict XVI Calls for Dedication to God•Pope Benedict XVI Calls for Harmony in Church •Pilgrims Flock to See Pope Benedict XVI in Bavaria •Pope Benedict XVI Listens to Sept. 11 Prayer •Pope Arrives in Germany for Visit to His hometown of Bavaria•Pope Set to Make homecoming Pilgrimage to Germany•Pope Urges World Religious Leaders to Use Influence to Bring About Peace•Police Declare Germany Safe for Papal Visit VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday he was "deeply sorry" about the angry reaction sparked by his speech about Islam and holy war and said the text did not reflect his personal opinion. "These (words) were in fact a quotation from a Medieval text which do not in any way express my personal thought," Benedict told pilgrims at his summer palace outside Rome. He noted that the Vatican secretary of state on Saturday had issued a statement trying to explain his words, which he delivered Tuesday in a speech during a pilgrimage to his native Germany. "I hope that this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect." Speaking about his pilgrimage last week, he said, "at this time I wish also to add that 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." reprah