Pope‘s Anti-Muslim Marks

In one of his few bureaucratic changes, Benedict removed the Vatican’s top expert on Islam, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, as head of the Vatican’s office for relation with Muslims and other religions, and sent him to Egypt as papal envoy.

Analysts like Fesso said Fitzgerald was probably removed because he was seen as being too soft on Islam, promoting dialogue with Muslims at all costs when the Vatican should be preaching Islamic countries hard to respect religious freedom.

But he also issued a strong denunciation of terrorism during a meeting with Muslim leaders in Cologne. And he has questioned whether the largely Muslim Turkey belongs in the European Union.

(Benedict makes his marks- surprising left and right

Nicole Winfield

Journal Star, Sunday, April 2, 2006, p. A14)