Iran on Saturday urged Pope Benedict XVI to apologise for remarks linking Islam to violence that set off a wave of anger across the Muslim world.
TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday urged Pope Benedict XVI to apologise for remarks linking Islam to violence that set off a wave of anger across the Muslim world, saying the pontiff had made a "great mistake".
The comments made by the pope, "emanate from political interpretations and are contrary to the divine notions and we denounce them," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.
"These comments are at odds with his position as a leader of one of the divine religions... and are a great mistake," he added.
"We recommend that in order to prevent igniting Muslims' religious sensitivities (he) rapidly reconsider and correct the comments so peace and solidarity is consolidated among divine religions."
The main theological association in Iran's clerical capital of Qom also condemned the remarks, saying: "The pope's irresponsible comments about Islam and Muslims cause concern and deep remorse and we strongly condemn them."
The statement said the pope "should confess to his great fault and by officially apologizing he could remedy a small portion of his unforgivable guilt in insulting Islam and Muslims."
During a trip to Germany on Tuesday, the pope cited a 14th-century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Mohammed had brought the world "evil and inhuman" things "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
In response to the anger at the comments across the Muslim world, Benedict's official spokesman said that the pope respected Islam but rejected violence motivated by religion.
A leading Iranian cleric, Ahmad Khatami, told worshippers at the main weekly prayers in Tehran on Friday that "it is a pity that the leader of the world's Christians is so uninformed about Islam and speaks so rudely."
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