The Mujahedeen Army, a group of insurgents in Iraq has posted a
message on the internet threatening attacks on Vatican City in
Rome, Italy.
The statement is issued to "you dog of Rome" then begins to
threaten Rome saying, we will "shake your thrones and break your
crosses in your home. Our minds will not rest until we shake your
thrones and break your crosses in your home. We swear to God to
send you people who adore death as much as you adore life. Rome
will be a witness when Mahomad destroys the Vatican. Romes cross
will be destroyed."
The threat comes after Pope Benedict XVI recited verses from a
conversation between Emperor Byzantine Manuel II Paleologus and a
Persian man in the 14th century. The Pope recited the remarks
quoting Paleilogus as saying, "show me just what Muhammad 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."
Because of the threat, security around Pope Benedict has been
increased.
"The preoccupations make reference not only to the Vatican City,
but also to diverse objectives that are somehow conducive to the
catholic world," the Dominican Today news agency quoted the Italian
News Agency as saying.
Security around the Pope "will be discreet not to disturb the
context of the mass however, meticulous and attentive, it will
cover a more extensive area than what is habitual. [We] have
reinforced safety measures in the area surrounding the
Vatican."
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio of Vatican City says the Pope
apologizes for his remarks made during a speech at the University
of Regensburg in Germany on September 12 2006 saying, "the Holy
Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have
appeared offensive to Muslims and were interpreted in a way he
hadn't intended them to be. [The speech was supposed to reflect]
the relationship between religion and violence in general, and to
conclude with a clear and radical rejection of the religious
motivation for violence, from whatever side it may come."
The Pope apologized in public today saying, "at this time I wish
also to add that I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some
countries to a few passages of my address at the University of
Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of
Muslims. These [comments] were in fact a quotation from a medieval
text which do not in any way express my personal thought."
"I hope that this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true
meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an
invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual
respect," added the Pope.
