Pope Ratzi

Pope criticised over Islam remarks

Muslim scholars and religious leaders in Kuwait, Turkey and Pakistan have criticised Pope Benedict XVI for his remarks critical of Islam and urged him to play a positive role in bringing Islam and Christianity closer.

Ali Bardakoglu, head of the state-run religious affairs directorate in Turkey, said on Thursday that Pope Benedict XVI as "full of enmity and grudge" against Islam. He opposed the pontiff's planned visit to Turkey in November.

Bardakoglu also demanded that the pope immediately retract and issue an apology for his remarks about Islam and his criticism of the concept of Holy War.

The pontiff's remarks "reflect the hatred in his heart. It is a statement full of enmity and grudge", Bardakoglu told the NTV news channel on Thursday.

Someone should tell Ratzi the Nazi the Crusades ended long ago, that he is not Pope Urban II and that Christendom did not come out of it very well.