Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The following statement was issued in English, Arabic and Italian by the Catholic Bishop Camillo Ballin, Vicar Apostolic in Kuwait, to address certain reactions in the Muslim world to a lecture given by Pope Benedict XVI at the University of Regensburg.
"The speech of the Holy Father was not a homily, nor a religious instruction, nor a judgement on any religion, nor on Islam in particular, but only an academic conference on the relation between faith and reason. His Holiness wanted to clarify that faith would reach a state of fundamentalism if it was not enlightened by reason. The quotation of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus - presented to his Muslim interlocutor - was only historical proof of how a religion could reach a state of fundamentalism when it is not enlightened by reason. On the 17th of September 2006, His Holiness affirmed that the quotation does not express in any way his personal opinion on Islam and declared that he is “deeply upset” for the misunderstanding and issued a call to dialogue between Islam and Christianity and to reciprocal respect. An Arab proverb says: “Brothers show themselves in times of hardship” I ask all, therefore, not to allow this rather sad incident to be an occasion to express their enmity against the Catholic Church. I ask you also not to forget that forty years ago the Catholic Church established a Pontifical Council for Dialogue between Islam and Christianity. So, how then would it be possible for the Pope himself to take a stand against Islam? The State of Kuwait is well known for its moderate stand and for its sincere openness to all religions, especially towards Christianity. There is no doubt that the officials and persons in charge (in the State of Kuwait) understand quite well that what the Pope said was not an expression of his personal judgement on Islam, but only a historical quotation from the Middle Ages." + Camillo Ballin Bishop of the Catholic Church in Kuwait, Rome, 17 September 2006” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2006; righe 23, parole 313)
