You know, I wouldnt even have mentioned about Pope and Crusades
if not for your BBC article! 
Originally posted by laoda99:
[b]Not so glamourous past....always digged out by
critics...haizzz....
BBC website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/war/holywar.shtml#christianity
The Crusades
The great series of western holy wars were the Crusades, which
lasted from 1095 until 1291 CE. The aim was to capture the sacred
places in the Holy Land from the Muslims who lived there, so it was
intended as a war to right wrongs done against Christianity.
The first Crusade was started by Pope Urban II in 1095. He
raged at the capture of the holy places and the treatment given to
Christians, and ordered a war to restore Christianity. He said that the war would have the
support of God:
"Let this be your war-cry in combats, because this word is given to
you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the enemy, let this
one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God: It is the will of
God! It is the will of God!"
"...Whoever shall determine upon this holy pilgrimage and shall
make his vow to God to that effect and shall offer himself to Him
as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, shall wear the
sign of the cross of the Lord on his forehead or on his
breast."
The pope also absolved all who took part in the crusade of all
their sins.
The first Crusade captured Jerusalem after bitter fighting,
and the residents of the city were brutalised and slaughtered by
the Christian invaders. The invaders' conduct breached the
principles of modern just war ethics, and the massacres still
colour Islamic politics today.[/b]
In any case, the Pope did justify this war under the name of God
and religion..
