Ah ha! Another place for me to contribute =)
Bismillah...
Brothers and Sisters, indeed we have cause for concern regarding the Pope's comments a couple of weeks ago. I have a few comments to share regarding this matter, as I do read the news every single day and I was very disturbed by what Benny had to say. Here is a quote from a trustworthy Canadian newsmedia website, the CBC.ca:
[[When the Pope gave a speech in Germany on Tuesday, he quoted a a 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor who said 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman.' The reaction from Muslims around the world has been swift and furious. Yesterday, the Vatican issued a statement saying 'The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers.' Has he truly apologized - and will that be enough?]]
First of all, I would like to point out the obvious. Roman Catholic Christians believe that the Pope is God's representative here on Earth and (this is important) that he is infallible. This means to say that he is unable to make mistakes. I am aware that his apology wasn't for what he said during his speech, but rather that he was sorry that what he said "may" be offensive to Muslims... like he didn't know ahead of time. Okay. So, the Pope is unable to make mistakes... and yet he's sorry for creating a reaction of anger and shock, which he had no idea would happen? Something here doesn't quite add up.
Secondly, I am disgusted by his weak and pathetic apology. What I didn't quote is that the Pope actually said, in defense of himself, words to the effect of: Besides, I was only quoting a 14th century emperor and that those words don't reflect my own opinions. He said this. Uhm, okay - If those words didn't reflect his own opinions... Why would he say them?! I mean, seriously!! Cmon!? Obviously he agrees with them, otherwise the Pope wouldn't have included them in his speech to illustrate his point about how violence and religion should never go hand in hand. I would like to insult Benny at this point, but upon reflection of now being a Muslim I will say nothing except that I leave it to you (my Brothers and Sisters) to make your own judgement, and that I leave it to Allah to make the final and supreme judgement.
And my 2nd point flows nicely into my 3rd comment on all of this. Benny said that he was repulsed on how Muhammad SAW used the sword to spread Islam. Okay, but let's be fair and take a look at the history: Really, our Prophet (peace be upon him) only used the sword to defend the lives of the Muslims when fleeing Mekkah to Medina when the disbelievers were plotting all sorts of things against him, and while in Medina in self-defense. It's not like he went over to Iran and said, "You guys revert to Islam, or I'm gunna keel you!" No, this isn't the case and anyone who isn't an ignorant dungbeetle knows this.
HOWEVER (and yes, this is a BIG however) ... Let's take a trip down Memory Lane. Anyone remember the history of the Christian Church? Anyone? Good, because I do! It all started with the last Roman Emporer Constantine deciding that he was unable to control his empire from also worshipping "God"/"Jehovah"/"Allah" so he was better off just accepting Christianity. Infact, not only did he accept it but he made it a thing that was mandatory across the whole of his empire (for tax reasons, too). If you weren't a Christian, you were an Infidel, a Heretic!! And indeed he commissioned the Roman Catholic Church to begin a whole new chapter of cruelty in human history. We had the dreaded "Confessors", the "Inquisitors" (a little later), and a whole Roman army dedicated to invading any country that didn't accept Constantine's views of Christianity. Anyone remember the "heretics" being burned alive at the stake? Anyone remember the "Christian Soldiers" who would crucify the unbelievers, all across Europe and even elsewhere? Forgive me for discomforting you, my dearest Brothers and Sisters, but the fact of the matter is that it was the Christians who spread religion by the sword! Far more than Muhammad (peace be upon him) or (to my knowledge) any other group of Muslims since!
There is one last point I'd like to make about Constantine, and I believe it reflects a great deal of truth about his mind. It is recorded in history that right at the very end of his life, just before he was about to die that he suddenly insisted on getting baptized. I believe that we Muslims know about baptism with water, because I know John the Baptist is meantioned in the Qu'ran. Basically, it's something that Christians are compelled to do; something that seals your bond with God, and forgives you of any sins you might have commited before swearing your heart over to Christ and to God. He did this right at the very last days of his life. Why? I'll tell you why - Because he had a guilty conscience! Because he was compelled to do whatever he could to make peace with God. Otherwise he would have done it years before. No, this was an act of desparation. Ponder that for a while.
My dearest Brothers and Sisters, I am not saying these things to you in the hopes that you will hate Christians. I am telling you this so that you know the Hak, the truth. Pity the ignorant Christians, but do not hate them. Not even Benny is to blame, because he's just a guy filling the shoes of another guy who's long dead, who was filling the shoes of another guy who's long dead, who was etc. etc. etc. The truth is, Satan is to blame and stupid people (most of whom are already long dead) will have to answer to Allah as to why they chose to listen to the Shaitaan's whispers. I was a Christian for 15 years (yes I know I keep telling you this, but it's the truth) and I always had a heart to serve and please God - All it took was for me to use my rational brain, to put together the facts for myself, and to accept the encouragement of YOU people here at TTI as well as the knowledge this website posseses.
Alhamdulilah
So to answer your questions, Sister Aiwa: Yes he really meant to insult our Prophet SAW, but also to insult the intelligence of the whole world community. Yes he was insulting Islam. No his "apology" was not at all convincing, and may I also accuse him of being a coward for not apologizing himself but instead having to use one of his peons.
And, by the way, I have only dealt in this post with the Roman Catholic History of Violence ... and there is indeed another Roman Catholic History that has nothing to do with this topic, but I'm gunna say it anyway: Roman Catholics need to wake up and fully realize their Church's history regarding Priests sexually abusing young alterboys (and sometimes girls). Of course, you'll never hear Benny talking honestly about this issue - but just remember that next time this dungbeetle tries to insult our religion.
Assalamu Alaikum, my Brothers and Sisters. I hope this knowledge helps you understand, and guide more misinformed believers to Islam. Peace! =)