向穆斯林世界致歉Apology to Muslims

“就坦白而真诚的对话发出的邀请”

    （Zenit.org九月17日讯）教宗本笃十六世今天在念三钟经前，于冈道尔夫堡别墅向前来朝圣的人群说：“我希望就因为我在里根斯堡大学所发表的演讲中，由于被认为是冒犯穆斯林世界的几句话而表示真诚的歉意。 这几句话其实是对一篇中古世纪的著作的引述，并不代表我个人的思想。昨天，圣座国务卿就我所用言词的真实意义发表了公开的声明。我希望这一举动能够宽慰人心并能够澄清我演讲的真正用意，因为从整体来看，它是在互相尊重的基础上，就坦白而真诚的对话所发出的邀请。”

Apology to Muslims
"An Invitation to Frank and Sincere Dialogue"

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 17, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today before reciting the midday Angelus with crowds at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The pastoral visit which I recently made to Bavaria was a deep spiritual experience, bringing together personal memories linked to places well known to me and pastoral initiatives toward an effective proclamation of the Gospel for today.

I thank God for the interior joy which he made possible, and I am also grateful to all those who worked hard for the success of this pastoral visit. As is the custom, I will speak more of this during next Wednesday''s general audience.

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 in fact were a quotation from a medieval text, which do not in any way express my personal thought.

Yesterday, the cardinal secretary of state published a statement in this regard in which he explained the true meaning of my words. 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.

[Translation issued by the Holy See]