Madrid – The United States initially saw Pope Benedict XVI as a “eurocentric” pontiff who was “unlikely to cut a prominent figure on the world stage”, according to WikiLeaks documents published on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The confidential US diplomatic cables obtained by the whistleblower website were quoted by the Spanish daily El Pais.<\/p>\n
German-born Benedict XVI would face a “steep learning curve” on international issues, US diplomats wrote after the then cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope in 2005.<\/p>\n
Some of the cables focus on a 2006 academic lecture given by the pope, who quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor saying that the Muslim prophet Mohammed had brought “only evil and inhuman things”. The quote sparked furious criticism in the Muslim world.<\/p>\n
“It taxes the imagination” to suppose that such a reference by the pope “would pass unnoticed”, a US diplomat wrote.<\/p>\n
Didn’t foresee consequences of statement<\/p>\n
According to his assessment, the pope made the reference on purpose, but without foreseeing the consequences, which were followed by apologies by the Vatican.<\/p>\n
The pope’s “approach toward Islam and toward inter-religious dialogue is cooler than that of his predecessor” John Paul II, the diplomat observed.<\/p>\n
The controversy was followed by the pope’s trip to Turkey, during which he toned down the uneasiness he had expressed about Turkey’s eventual European Union membership while he was still a cardinal.<\/p>\n
The Vatican’s official stance now is that it is not opposed to the membership as long as Turkey meets EU conditions including religious freedom for its Christians.<\/p>\n
The Vatican agreed with Washington that the possibility of Turkey – a US ally – joining the EU had the potential to promote greater rights for religious minorities in the country, US diplomats wrote.<\/p>\n
Unofficially, however, top Vatican officials told diplomats they were sceptical about Turkey’s commitment to religious freedom.<\/p>\n
“The Holy See does not believe theological agreements with Islam are possible, but is convinced that better mutual knowledge will allay suspicions and facilitate peaceful co-existence,” US diplomats wrote in 2009.<\/p>\n
– SAPA<\/p>\n
via US pushed pope to welcome Islam: News24: World: News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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