‘Show me what Muhammad brought to this world’

Here we go again - a misinterpreted/misreported remark by the pope is about to cause a worldwide condemnation.

First lets look at what the pope had said, or have been reported to have said.

In a speech in Germany, the pontiff spoke about the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith.

Then he quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire as saying that:

"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Pope Benedict XVI apparently stressed on two occasions that those were not his own words and that he was quoting the Byzantine emporer.

Whatever it is, Muslims worldwide are not happy over this remark - either from the pope or from the Christian ruler from the past.

Criticisms have been coming fast and furious. The Pakistani parliament openly condemned him while Muslim leaders in Turkey are comparing pope to Hitler and Mussolini.

The situation in Turkey is interesting as the pope is due for a visit there in November. As it stands, a leader of the Turkish ruling party said the pope’s remarks looked "like an effort to revive the mentality of the Crusades".

In the next few days we can see more outbursts, protests and even violent demonstrations in the Muslim world. No matter whatever the Vatican says now to placate the situation will work.

What I am wondering is why should the pope make such a sensitive remark in the first place, even if he was only quoting someone?

I am sure the Vatican will be equally upset if someone ridicules and under plays any Christian tenets. Similarly the head of a powerful religious movement should also know what to say when, especially if it concerns some other religion.

Did someone say we need more religious tolerance?