Vatican tries to reassure Muslims from UN podium

UNITED NATIONS - The Vatican used the stage of the United Nations on Wednesday to try to make amends for remarks by Pope Benedict that drew fury from Muslims worldwide.

Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, governor of Vatican City, told the 192-member UN General Assembly that the pope had voiced sadness at the possible misinterpretation of quotes linking Muslims and violence.

"His real intention was to explain that 'not religion and violence, but religion and reason go together,' in the context of a critical vision of a society which seeks to exclude God from public life," Lajolo said.

The pope, 79, has faced persistent criticism despite four attempts to make amends, without actually apologizing directly, for a speech he gave on September 12 in his native Germany.

His last effort was in Italy on Monday when he spoke to diplomats from some 20 Muslim countries plus leaders of Italy's own Muslim community.

In New York, foreign ministers of the 56-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference, meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly, had urged the pope to "retract or redress" the comments.

Benedict enraged Muslims two weeks ago by quoting 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel 2 Palaeologus, who said everything the Prophet Mohammad brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The Muslim foreign ministers said in a statement on Tuesday they feared the pope's language might engender tension between the Muslim world and the Vatican.

Lajolo, who only 12 days ago stepped down as Vatican foreign minister, said: "It falls to all interested parties -- to civil society as well as to states -- to promote religious freedom and a sane, social tolerance that will disarm extremists even before they can begin to corrupt others with their hatred of life and liberty."

The pope is facing the toughest international crisis since his election in April 2005 -- and, despite praise from some prominent Muslims -- the severity of some reactions has raised doubts about his planned trip to Turkey in November.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan again criticized the pope on Wednesday, saying even a politician would not have spoken in such a way.

- REUTERS