Benedict XVI and Iran's former President Khatami Hold Meeting at Vatican

Asia News ^ | May 4, 2007 | Bernardo Cervellera

[NYer]

Today's meeting at the Vatican between Mohammad Khatami and Benedict XVI was held under the banner of the "dialogue between civilizations." Iran's former president has for years been working for such dialogue which involves the clear expression of identity, profound respect for the religious element, and a critique of mathematical and materialistic reason. From this point of view, today's encounter is very much in line with the speech that the Pope made at Regensburg University last September.

 

Pope Benedict XVI's masterly lecture tended in fact to highlight a widening of reason that, by going beyond anti-religion Enlightenment thinking ("irrational"), allows for rich and fraternal dialogue with extra-European and non-Western cultures. At the same time, the Pope showed that violence is "irrational" and is therefore worthy neither of God, nor of man, nor of any religion, Islam included.

 

The fuss which resulted from the Regensburg speech was fuelled by liberalist Westerners and islamist Easterners and belittled the profoundness of Benedict XVI's proposal so as to make it appear a simple dispute between Islam and Christianity, with the latter "obviously" unable to understand Islam and accusing the Pope of having fomented a "war of religions."

 

At that time, Khatami was among the few Muslims leaders – the first – to distance himself from the protest rallies and attacks of the Islamic world, asking everyone "to read the Pope's entire speech, before criticizing it." But, because of the tensions created by malevolent interpretations of the Regensburg address, his visit to the Vatican, initially planned for last November, did not take place.   Today's meeting heals a wound and sends the message that "dialogue between civilizations" is stronger than the "clash of civilizations."

 

But it is only a partial healing. Where in fact healing is slow is in the liberalist Western world where, to avoid questioning its blind closure to the problem of Godless reason, it continues to rail against the Catholic Church and the Pope, and justifies the many forms of violence committed in the name of Islam, fomenting a new war of religion with Islam.

In their ideological blindness, a good part of the so-called "progressive" intellectuals says that the causes of terrorism are American imperialism, colonialism, the state of Israel, globalization. But in this way they do not realize that Islamist terrorism strikes well beyond the West: Buddhists in Thailand, Hindus in India, Muslims themselves, both Sunni and Shia. Even violence against Palestinians does not only come with an Israeli stamp, but also derives from a power struggle between Hamas and Fatah.

Thanks to this blindness in Europe – and in Italy – we are witnessing a veritable alliance between progressivism and violent Islamism. In the name of anti-Americanism and multiculturalism, people are calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, from Afghanistan, and are justifying the violence of males against Islamic women and polygamy. Again yesterday, the Pope was ridiculed in the European Parliament, while great caution was exercised when it was a question of the anti-Mohammad caricatures. And while a benevolent attitude is being preached with regard to a violent Islam, an intransigent and intolerant attitude is spreading against the Catholic Church, "guilty" of displaying crosses and nativity scenes and of expressing its view on life and family in the ("liberal"?) society.

 

The encounter between Benedict XVI and Khatami shows that dialogue is possible if parties do not hide their identity and work for the good of men and women. To do this, it is necessary that, from East to West, we condemn violence, always and regardless, while guaranteeing religious freedom.  

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI (L) poses with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami during a private meeting at the Vatican May 4, 2007. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (VATICAN)

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI (L) speaks with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami during a private meeting at the Vatican May 4, 2007. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (VATICAN)

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[SolidWood]

Shame on the pope. I thought he would stand up to the Islamos after his remarks on Islam... but apparently he prefers to be dhimmi. What a dissapointment.

[antiRepublicrat]

What is Benedict up to? Khatami was kicked out because he was too moderate for those now in power.

[SolidWood]

The differences between Khatami and the current crop are nuances. There is no moderation within the islamic regime.

Only foxes who prefer to smile while building WMDs and lunatics who prefer to rant while building WMDs.

[marshmallow]

Shame on the pope. I thought he would stand up to the Islamos after his remarks on Islam... but apparently he prefers to be dhimmi. What a dissapointment.

I've read the article and I can't find anything to justify this conclusion.

The Pope is neither a "dhimmi" nor a fire-breathing zealot.

He's a deeply spiritual, intellectual man who is playing this game on a chessboard which is a little wider than you appreciate.

[sageb1]

Well stated. I agree with you.

[rjp2005]

The zealots of Jesus time thought he should be more confrontational and politically involved - he had a different focus for his mission, just as the Holy Father does.

[britemp]

Looks like they share the same tailor but not the same dry cleaners. . . . . .

[britemp]

What we need is for the catholics to show the muslims how a religion should act in the 21st century and elect a female pope. Then the muslims definitely wouldn’t talk to her! :D

[Traianus]

He’s a deeply spiritual, intellectual man who is playing this game on a chessboard which is a little wider than you appreciate...

EVEN MORE, HOLY FATHER is a maverick in BLINDFOLD CHESS....

[SolidWood]

IMO there are limits to this “chessboard game” of politics, dialogue and diplomacy.

The head of the Catholic church meeting and smiling with a Islamofacist murderer and terrorist is shameful. The same applies BTW to American officials, representatives and institutions.

The Pope may be spiritual or intellectual. Good for him.
I still can’t see the justification for inviting an enemy thug. Why isn’t the pope meeting with real Iranian dissidents? Now that would be the real deal.

[antiRepublicrat]

The differences between Khatami and the current crop are nuances. There is no moderation within the islamic regime.

They are far more than nuances. Khatami was pretty conservative and definitely not ideal. But he was pushing for better relations with the West, all-inclusive representation, rule of law (instead of at the whims of the mullahs) and for restoration of the rights of women. He got elected on the youth and women vote, people who were, and are now, pushing to reform the restrictive, hardline government.

Remember that the government consists of two parts: the popularly elected structure and the Guardian Council appointed by the Ayatollah. The Council can overrule anything, and did so for all of Khatami's attempted reforms.

He upset the Muslim hardliners so much that they rigged the 2004 election get rid of the reformers, leading to the installation of Ahmanutjub.

[AliVeritas]

Think past that... what are they saying in Iran?

Reason.

He’s planting the metastasis for freedom from within Iran... stay tuned.

[Enchante]

Yeah, Khatami’s a “reformer” the way Goering might have seemed preferable to Himmler.........

[antiRepublicrat]

Yeah, Khatami’s a “reformer” the way Goering might have seemed preferable to Himmler..

Let me put it this way. We would not be having this confrontation with Iran if Khatami had had the power to implement his reforms.