When I wrote my recent blog about Islam and violence I had yet to read the Holy Father’s most recent thoughts on the subject, spoken to Peter Seewald for his book Light of the World. Here is a synopsis for those who have not yet had an opportunity to read the book for themselves.
Commenting on the extreme reaction to his Regensburg address, the Pope says:
“These events ultimately turned out to have a positive impact. During my visit to Turkey, I was able to show that I respect Islam, that I acknowledge it as a great religious reality with which we must be in dialogue. And so this controversy led to the development of a truly vigorous dialogue. It became evident that Islam needs to clarify two questions in regard to public dialogue, that is, the questions concerning its relation to violence and its relation to reason. It was an important first step that now there was within Islam itself a realisation of the duty and the need to clarify these questions, which has since led to an internal reflection among Muslim scholars, a reflection that has in turn become a theme of dialogue with the Church.”
