Pope Benedict XVI criticises Prophet Muhammad's teachings
{{date|September 13, 2006}}
[[Image:Ratzinger Szczepanow 2003 9.JPG|right|140px]]    
During a theological lecture at the [[w:University of Regensburg|University of Regensburg]], in [[w:Bavaria|Bavaria]], [[w:Pope Benedict XVI|Pope Benedict XVI]] criticized the idea of ''[[W:jihad|jihad]]''. He opined that the ''[[w:mujahideen|mujahideen]]'' and the ''jihad'' they are fighting "(goes) against the nature of God". The Pope said "Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul". He quoted Byzantine Emperor [[w:Manuel II Palaiologos|Manuel II Palaiologos]], who said, "Show me just what [[w:Muhammad|Mohammed]] brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

The Pope also criticized the [[w:Occident|Western world]] for alienating other cultures and "excluding God".

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Pope+criticises+Islamic+extremism&id=93128
|title=Pope criticises Islamic extremism
|author=
|pub=NDTV
|date=September 13, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/12/pope.bavaria.ap/index.html?slug=Pope:
|title= Pope: Conversion by violence not of God
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=September 12, 2006}}

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[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Pope Benedict XVI]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Islam]]
140px    
During a theological lecture at the University of Regensburg, in Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI criticized the idea of jihad. He opined that the mujahideen and the jihad they are fighting "(goes) against the nature of God". The Pope said "Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul". He quoted Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, who said, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

The Pope also criticized the Western world for alienating other cultures and "excluding God".

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Christianity Pope Benedict XVI Religion Politics and conflicts Germany Europe Islam