The pope's great blunder was the center of over one month of long comments. First, it was made in Germany, the country with the biggest Muslim community and, second, it was made in a University, giving it a deeper meaning. What gave way to such a comment? Is Pope's comment a part of a campaign? Find out some possible answers here.

First of all, Vatican published the transcript of the conference given by Pope Benedict XVI at the University of Regensburg. Many of the commentators seem to elude the fact this conference was given in front of a crowd formed mainly by men and women working in the field of science. After addressing the audience and praising the old German University, Pope Benedict XVI speaks about the dialogue between the erudite Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam, and the truth of both. The pope cites a passage taken from this dialogue, saying: "Show me just what Mohammed 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". This citation is later explained by the pope, stating it expresses a great emphasis on the action of man, always expected to act in accordance
with the reason.

The comment of the pope is somehow misleading, because first of all it goes back to a period in which the two religions were clashing at the gates of Europe. And second, the words of Manuel II Paleologus, although based on a Christian tradition, are not updated and coherent in a interreligious dialogical spirit. This is one of the reason why some Christian commentators expressed their surprise when they heard the speech. The conference continues with a deeper sense related to God's transcendence and the way in which this rational category is understood inside the Muslim and Christian spirituality.

The events after the conference were quick and they all expressed a message of disapproval. BBC presented also a Vatican press release, in which the pontifical press agency tried to demonstrate the pope would never insult the heritage of Muslim culture. Christians, Muslims and other press agencies sent a great deal of releases, trying to see inside the pope's mind and trying to get as much as they could from this subject. At this point, we must say it was a tremendous blunder to even think this conference will only interest those inside the respective room. A media blunder, but also a black spot on the face of pope's advisors. Reactions were needed, and most of the Vatican's ambassadors to Muslim countries were summoned to express apologies to the Muslim faithful. Riots, violent acts (such as the horrific crimes in Nigeria) came immediately. Some went as far as to compare the pope with Hitler or Mussolini (Salih Kapusuz, deputy leader of Turkey's ruling AK party, a country to be visited this month by the Pope).

Although pope's intention was to speak about the history of relations between religion and science, this purpose was shadowed by the importance of this single remark. On the other hand, it's unlikely to think pope Benedict XVI, one of the most important scholars in the Catholic Church even before becoming a pope, did not know his words would be interpreted in all senses, especially when they spoke of Christian-Muslim relations in the years before the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks. So, what were his intentions?

The vast majority of commentators think the pope tried to express what he believes for a long time: there is a certain superiority in the Christian thought in comparison with the Muslim thinking. This is to be seen in the different way in which the two religions relate with the science field, with philosophical realm and with its dialogue with society. Even as a cardinal, Ratzinger expressed the same opinions, saying Islam has not yet evolved to a higher ground, from where it could reach a different kind of dialogue with the lay parts of the society. In fact, Islam has no social thinking, no agenda about integrating into his
thinking the lay philosophy or any ideas invented in a secular society. This absence of a laity, as well as the idea of integration, makes very difficult the process of dialogue, so the only solution for a Muslim believer is to convince through force. This is the kind of thinking Pope Benedict XVI tried to engulf into his discourse, motivated by the fact he was addressing a science community, often martirized or demonized by Muslim theology.

The reign of John Paul II was dominated by the clash of political systems, one promoting freedom, the other resuming every human being to an instrument at the ruler's disposal. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in Regensburg a subtle fear he has now for years: the next period in the life of the Church will be one dominated by the clash between religious systems. Let's hope he's not right.

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