Sure there is. The man was human and made a serious error in judgment.
That said, compare this act with that of his successor:
Posted on 04/08/2008 12:11:04 PM PDT by Beloved Levinite
The Pope Kissing the Koran
Below is a photo (see link below) of the Pope at the end of an audience with Patriarch Raphael I of Iraq, where the Pope "bowed" to the Muslim holy book, The Koran, presented to him by the delegation, and kissed it. Did the Pope, who in fact is the supposed "infallible" voice of the Roman Catholic Church not remember what The Koran has to say about Jesus and the nature of God? Did he not know how The Koran demotes Jesus the Messiah to "only a messenger of Allah" status?
"O people of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which he conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit [sic.] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers and say not 'Three' - Cease! (it is better for you! - Allah is only one God. Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son...The Messiah will never scorn to be a slave unto Allah."
Of Jesus Christ, The Koran also states:
"And when the son of Mary is quoted as an example, behold! The folk laugh out, and say: Are our gods better, or is he? They raise not the objection save for argument. Nay! but they are a contentious folk. He is nothing but a slave on whom we bestowed favor, and we made him a pattern for the Children of Israel. And had we willed it we would have set among you angels to be viceroys in the earth".
Regarding Christ's death upon the Cross, The Koran says:
"That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary a grave false charge; That they said (in boast): We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, The Messenger of Allah. But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjunction to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. ... And on the Day of Judgment He (Jesus) will be a witness against them (Christians)." (Koran, 4:156-159)
The Koran even has Jesus Himself saying:
"Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One." The Pope was picked as "the Man of the Century" by various religious leaders. SOURCE: Fides (Rome) news Interview with Patriarch of Babylon!
Written by: Darrell G. Young Copyright©2002
Link to photo: http://focusonjerusalem.com/popekissingkoran.html
“... looking up a picture of the Sharif translation of the Bible into Arabic.”
Here is photo of the cover: http://www.lovesaudis.com/affiliate.html
The first green book is the Sharif bible.
(Not that it makes any difference to the flying monkeys.)
Your disbelief of this event is quite apparent, however it was addressed in Catholic blogs at the time. You choose to not to believe it - so be it.
http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/roman_catholic_blog/2006/05/why_did_pope_jo.html
PS- And what does being a newbie have to do with anything? Were you ever a newbie on FR? We’ll see who’s credibilty wins out here.
...still looking though.. this is the internet after all, everything must be 'fact checked', especially 'common knowledge'.
Truly a heroic act by Pope Benedict XVI. God Bless him and prayers for a safe trip to the USA next week.
JPII: "Good grief, Raphy ... what is that smell?!"
Did the Poep, who in fact is the supposed "infallible" voice of the Roman Catholic Church not remember what The Koran has to say about Jesus and the nature of God?
The pope isn't infallible often. Or something like that.
Well I wasn’t around at the time, sandyeggo, and I just recently took an interest in the religion blog. I understand Catholics don’t like that picture, but it’s a well known fact that the RCC has been building a bridge to Islam for quite some time, under the guise of “Ecumenism.” But how can this be possible, consiering what the Koran has to say about Chirst? All I’m saying is, “Buyer Beware!”
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21977?l=english
Conclusion of Vatican-Muslim Meeting
Announces Seminar “Love of God, Love of Neighbor”
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 5, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the communiqué released today by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue upon concluding a two-day meeting with Muslim scholars in the Vatican in which the religious representative established the Catholic-Muslim Forum.
* * *
In the light of the Open Letter “A Common Word” signed by 138 Muslim scholars, and the response of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, through the Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, a Delegation of the Signatories of the Open Letter met with a Delegation representing the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (Vatican City) in the offices of the same Pontifical Council on Tuesday, March 4th and on Wednesday, March 5th 2008. Five participants from each side participated in the meeting.
The participants were:
Catholic Participants:
1. His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis TAURAN, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
2. His Excellency Archbishop Pier Luigi CELATA, Titular Archbishop of Doclea, Secretary, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
3. Msgr. Khaled AKASHEH, Head Officer for Islam, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
4. Fr. Miguel Ángel AYUSO GUIXOT, M.C.C.J., President, Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies.
5. Prof. Dr. Christian W. TROLL, S.J., Visiting Professor, Pontifical Gregorian University.
Muslim Participants:
1. Sheikh Professor Abdal Hakim MURAD, President, Muslim Academic Trust, UK.
2. Prof. Dr. Aref Ali NAYED, Director, Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center, Amman, Jordan.
3. Dr. Ibrahim KALIN, SETA Foundation, Ankara, Turkey.
4. Imam Yahya PALLAVICINI, Vice-President, CO.RE.IS. (Comunità Religiosa Islamica), Italy.
5. Mr. Sohail NAKHOODA, Editor-in-Chief, Islamica Magazine, Amman, Jordan.
In order to further develop Catholic-Muslim dialogue, the participants agreed to establish “The Catholic-Muslim Forum” and to organize the first Seminar of the Forum in Rome from 4 to 6 November 2008. Twenty-four religious leaders and scholars from each side will participate. The theme of the Seminar will be “Love of God, Love of Neighbor”. The sub-themes will be “Theological and Spiritual Foundations” (1st day) and “Human Dignity and Mutual Respect” (2nd day). The Seminar will conclude with a public session on the 3rd day. The seminar participants will be received by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Jean-Louis TAURAN
Sheikh Prof. Abdal Hakim MURAD
I think was wiping his nose with it.
With the help of sandyeggo — here’s the research
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1972980/posts?page=85#85
Thanks for that thoughtful & lengthy reply, NYer. The only thing I can add is, that most serious theologians with say, a Master of Divinity, would have studied world/comparitive religions in great detail. I should think no less of Pope John Paul II. I would find it hard to believe that he was ignorant of what is stated in the Koran, yet we all here are well aware of it.
God Bless.
Whadd, is that your Christian poster boy? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ayyyyyyyyyyyye!
????? Ever had the feeling you were being had???
OK, saudy, but do you believe the Pope’s attempt at uniting Christianity & Islam (and others) is a good thing? I am not speaking of “conversion to Christianity” here. I am speaking of the Pope showing “respect” for Islam & the Koran, and coexisting equally with Christianity & the Bible. Didn’t Christ warn against this?
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