The Pope "Sorry" For Remarks

Pope Benedict told Muslims on Saturday he was sorry they had found his speech on Islam offensive, expressing his respect for their faith and hoping they would understand the "true sense" of his words.

"The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers," Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said in a statement.

In that speech, the Pope appeared to endorse a Christian view, contested by most Muslims, that the early Muslims spread their religion by violence. Islamic fury erupted on Thursday and has cast doubt on a visit the Pope plans to Turkey in November.

Several western media groups had demanded an apology:
New York Times said he must issue a "deep and persuasive" apology for quotes used in his speech.

The Guardian newspaper said the pope might have stirred up less controversy if he had not in the past described Christianity as the cornerstone of Europe and opposed Turkey's entry into the European Union.

"The pope has lived a cloistered life, rarely exposed to the unholy nuances of world politics. He needs advisers around him who are," left-leaning newspaper said Saturday.

"However, the Vatican has apologised. That should be enough for what was almost certainly nothing more than an ill-judged remark," it said.