Editing Pope Benedict XVI (section)

=== Interfaith dialogue ===
==== Judaism ====
{{Main|Pope Benedict&nbsp;XVI and Judaism}}

When Benedict ascended to the papacy, his election was welcomed by the [[Anti-Defamation League]] who noted "his great sensitivity to Jewish history and the [[Holocaust]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/VaticanJewish_96/44698_96.htm|title=ADL Welcomes Election of Cardinal Ratzinger as New Pope|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115060118/http://www.adl.org/PresRele/VaticanJewish_96/44698_96.htm|archive-date=15 January 2013}}</ref> However, his election received a more reserved response from [[British Chief Rabbi]] [[Jonathan Sacks]], who hoped that Benedict would "continue along the path of Pope John{{nbsp}}XXIII and Pope John Paul{{nbsp}}II in working to enhance relations with the Jewish people and the [[State of Israel]]."<ref name="BBC4462503">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4462503.stm | title=In quotes: Reaction to Pope election | date=20 April 2005 |work=BBC News | access-date=31 January 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305050120/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4462503.stm|archive-date=5 March 2012}}</ref> Israeli foreign minister [[Silvan Shalom]] also offered tentative praise, though Shalom believed that "this Pope, considering his historical experience, will be especially committed to an uncompromising fight against [[anti-Semitism]]."<ref name="BBC4462503" />

Critics have accused Benedict's papacy of insensitivity towards Judaism. The two most prominent instances were the expansion of the use of the Tridentine Mass and the lifting of the [[Excommunication (Catholic Church)|excommunication]] on four bishops from the [[Society of St. Pius X]] (SSPX). In the [[Good Friday]] service, the Tridentine Mass [[rubric]]s include a prayer that asks God to lift the veil so "they [Jews] may be delivered from their darkness". This prayer has historically been contentious in [[Catholic Church and Judaism|Judaic-Catholic relations]] and several groups saw the [[Good Friday prayer for the Jews#Changes by Benedict XVI|restoration of the Tridentine Mass as problematic]].<ref name="tomorrow">{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/9812/vatican-to-release-benedict-xvis-letter-on-the-use-of-the-tridentine-mass-tomorrow |title=Vatican to release Benedict XVI's letter on the use of the Tridentine Mass tomorrow |publisher=Catholicnewsagency.com |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=17 February 2013 |archive-date=15 April 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415234336/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=9812 }}</ref><ref>[http://sandiegojewishworld.com/2007-sdjw/2007-07%20sdjw/2007-07-06friday/2007-07-06.htm "Mikulanis says ADL jumped gun, got its facts wrong"] ''[[San Diego Jewish World]]''. Vol. 1, Number 67. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120118192352/http://sandiegojewishworld.com/2007-sdjw/2007-07%20sdjw/2007-07-06friday/2007-07-06.htm WebCitation archive]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/02/omalley_meets_j.html |title=O'Malley meets Jews over Holocaust flap |work=The Boston Globe |date=24 February 2009 |last=Paulson |first=Michael |access-date=20 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226211312/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/02/omalley_meets_j.html |archive-date=26 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.zenit.org/article-24928?l=english |title=What Is Not True About the Good Friday Prayer for Jews |agency=Zenit News Agency |date=27 January 2009 |access-date=20 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109182547/http://www.zenit.org/article-24928?l=english |archive-date=9 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Cernera, Anthony J. and Eugene Korn |date=26 November 1986 |url=http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10250 |title=The Latin Liturgy and the Jews |publisher=America |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612145354/http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10250 |archive-date=12 June 2011 }}</ref> Among those whose excommunications were lifted was Bishop [[Richard Williamson (bishop)|Richard Williamson]], an outspoken [[Historical revisionism#Negationism and denial|historical revisionist]] sometimes interpreted as a [[Holocaust denier]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7870000/newsid_7878500/7878580.stm|title=Seminary sacks 'Holocaust bishop'|date=9 February 2009|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>Willan, Philip.
[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-readmits-holocaustdenying-priest-to-the-church-1515339.html "Pope readmits Holocaust-denying priest to the church"] ''[[The Independent]]''. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20111013071241/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-readmits-holocaustdenying-priest-to-the-church-1515339.html WebCitation archive]</ref><ref>Wensierski, Peter [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,606660,00.html "Williamson's Colleagues Under Fire: SSPX in Germany Criticized over Anti-Semitic Statements"] ''[[Der Spiegel]]''. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120129165747/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,606660,00.html WebCitation archive] "The latest issue of the SSPX's newsletter for German-speaking countries{{nbsp}}[...] contains several anti-Semitic statements. 'The Jewish people were once the chosen people. But the majority of the people denied the Messiah on his first coming,' reads the February issue's cover story{{nbsp}}[...] According to the newsletter article, this is why the Bible's Gospel of Matthew states, 'His blood be upon us and upon our children,' a phrase historically used by some Christians to justify anti-Semitism."</ref><ref>[http://www.adl.org/main_Interfaith/Society_Saint_Pius_X.htm "The Society of St. Pius X: Mired in Antisemitism"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116185834/http://www.adl.org/main_Interfaith/Society_Saint_Pius_X.htm |date=16 January 2013 }} The [[Anti-Defamation League]] 26 January 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009 "SSPX has promoted theological and conspiratorial anti-Semitism among its adherents."</ref> The lifting of his excommunication led critics to charge that the Pope was condoning his historical revisionist views.<ref>Liphshiz, Cnaan {{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/report-vatican-readmits-society-that-propagates-anti-semitism-1.270517 |title=Report: Vatican readmits society that propagates anti-Semitism |access-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110201106/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/report-vatican-readmits-society-that-propagates-anti-semitism-1.270517 |archive-date=10 November 2011 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=19 February 2009 }} ''[[Haaretz]]''. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2011 "The [web]site from Germany{{nbsp}}[...] clarifies that 'contemporary Jews are for sure guilty of the murder of God, as long as they don't recognise Christ as God.'"</ref>

==== Islam ====
{{Main|Pope Benedict XVI and Islam}}

Benedict's relations with [[Islam]] were strained at times. On 12 September 2006, he delivered [[Regensburg lecture|a lecture which touched on Islam at the University of Regensburg]] in Germany. He had served there as a professor of theology before becoming Pope, and his lecture was entitled "Faith, Reason and the University{{snd}}Memories and Reflections". The lecture received much attention from political and religious authorities. Many [[Islamic world|Islamic politicians and religious leaders]] registered their protest against what they labelled an insulting mischaracterization of Islam, although his focus was aimed towards the rationality of religious violence, and its effect on the religion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5348436.stm|title=In quotes: Muslim reaction to Pope|date=16 September 2006|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref name="BBC1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5353208.stm |title=Pope sorry for offending Muslims |work=BBC News |date=17 September 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820032525/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5353208.stm |archive-date=20 August 2011 }}</ref> Muslims were particularly offended by a passage that the Pope quoted in his speech: "Show me just what Muhammad 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."<ref name="BBC1" />

The passage originally appeared in the ''Dialogue Held with a Certain Persian, the Worthy Mouterizes, in Anakara of Galatia''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg.html|title=Apostolic Journey to München, Altötting and Regensburg: Meeting with the representatives of science in the Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg (September 12, 2006) &#124; Benedict XVI|website=vatican.va}}</ref> written in 1391 as an expression of the views of the [[Byzantine]] emperor [[Manuel II Palaeologus]], one of the last Christian rulers before the [[Fall of Constantinople]] to the Muslim [[Ottoman Empire]], on such issues as [[forced conversion]], [[holy war]], and the relationship between [[faith]] and [[reason]]. According to the German text, the Pope's original comment was that the emperor "addresses his interlocutor in an astoundingly harsh{{snd}}to us surprisingly harsh{{snd}}way" ({{langx|de|wendet er sich in erstaunlich schroffer, uns überraschend schroffer Form}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/de/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg.html|title=Apostolische Reise nach München, Altötting und Regensburg: Treffen mit den Vertretern der Wissenschaft in der Aula Magna der Universität Regensburg (12. September 2006) &#124; Benedikt XVI|website=vatican.va}}</ref> Benedict apologized for any offence he had caused and made a point of visiting [[Turkey]], a predominantly Muslim country, and praying in its [[Blue Mosque, Istanbul|Blue Mosque]]. Benedict planned on 5 March 2008, to meet with Muslim scholars and religious leaders autumn 2008 at a Catholic-Muslim seminar in Rome.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/05/pope.muslims/index.html|title=Pope to hold seminar with Muslims |publisher=CNN|date=5 March 2008|access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> That meeting, the "First Meeting of the [[Catholic-Muslim Forum]]", was held from 4–6 November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zenit.org/article-24175?l=english |title=Final Statement of Catholic-Muslim Forum |publisher=Zenit |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608000710/http://www.zenit.org/article-24175?l=english |archive-date=8 June 2011 }}</ref> On 9 May 2009, Benedict visited the King Hussein Mosque in [[Amman]], Jordan where he was addressed by [[Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad]].<ref name="Signs_of_Hope">Saleh, Fakhri [http://en.qantara.de/Signs-of-Hope/9472c9571i1p642/ "Arab Reactions to the Pope's Visit Signs of Hope"] [[Qantara.de]] 18 May 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406114314/http://en.qantara.de/Signs-of-Hope/9472c9571i1p642/ WebCitation archive]</ref>

==== Buddhism ====
The [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] congratulated Benedict{{nbsp}}XVI upon his election,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9643&t=1|title=His Holiness the Dalai Lama Greets New Pope|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211202324/http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9643&t=1}}</ref> and visited him in October 2006 in Vatican City. In 2007, the People's Republic of China was accused of using its political influence to stop a meeting between the Pope and the Dalai Lama.<ref>[http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.1604471683 "Italy: China blamed for absence of Papal audience for Dalai Lama"], [[Adnkronos]], 27 November 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2009</ref>

==== Indigenous American beliefs ====
While visiting Brazil in May 2007, "the pope sparked controversy by saying that native populations had been 'silently longing' for the Christian faith brought to South America by colonizers."<ref name="softenc">{{cite news|title=Pope Softens Remarks on Conversion of Natives |first=Ian |last=Fisher |author-link=Ian Fisher (journalist) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/world/europe/23cnd-pope.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=23 May 2007 |access-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605085737/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/world/europe/23cnd-pope.html |archive-date=5 June 2015 }}</ref> The Pope continued, stating that "the proclamation of Jesus and of his Gospel did not at any point involve an alienation of the [[Pre-Columbian era|pre-Columbus]] cultures, nor was it the imposition of a foreign culture."<ref name="softenc" /> Venezuelan president [[Hugo Chávez]] demanded an apology, and an indigenous organization in Ecuador issued a response which stated that "representatives of the Catholic Church of those times, with honourable exceptions, were accomplices, deceivers and beneficiaries of one of the most horrific genocides of all humanity."<ref name="softenc" /> Later, the Pope, speaking Italian, said at a weekly audience that it was "not possible to forget the suffering and the injustices inflicted by colonizers against the indigenous population, whose fundamental human rights were often trampled" but made no apology.<ref>Fisher, Ian [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/world/americas/23iht-pope.4.5843368.html "Pope tries to quell anger over speech he gave in Brazil"], ''The New York Times'', 23 May 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20130516200837/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/world/americas/23iht-pope.4.5843368.html WebCitation archive]</ref>

==== Hinduism ====
While visiting the United States on 17 April 2008, Benedict met with [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] representative [[Radhika Ramana Dasa]],<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |url=http://news.iskcon.com/node/963 |title=ISKCON Scholar To Meet with the Pope |work=ISKCON News |date=31 March 2008 |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118183046/http://news.iskcon.com/node/963 |archive-date=18 January 2012 }}</ref> a noted [[Hindu]] scholar<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.iskcon.com/node/988 |title=Young Vaisnava Scholar to Bring a Gift to the Pope |work=ISKCON News |date=16 April 2008 |location=Washington D.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706140348/http://news.iskcon.com/node/988 |archive-date=6 July 2008 }}</ref> and disciple of Hanumatpreshaka Swami.<ref name="Faculty">{{Cite web|url=http://bhaktivedantacollege.com/?p=article&g=33|title=Bhaktivedanta College |publisher=Bhaktivedanta College |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730154759/https://bhaktivedantacollege.com/?p=article&g=33 |archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> On behalf of the Hindu American community, Radhika Ramana Dasa presented a gift of an [[Om]] symbol to Benedict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.iskcon.com/node/991/2008-04-18/iskcon_scholar_greets_pope_behalf_of_us_hindus |title=ISKCON Scholar Greets Pope on Behalf Of US Hindus |work=ISKCON News |date=19 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606082910/http://news.iskcon.com/node/991/2008-04-18/iskcon_scholar_greets_pope_behalf_of_us_hindus |archive-date=6 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=David |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-usa-interfaith-idUSN1438604520080415 |title=Despite missteps, pope reaching out to other faiths |work=Reuters |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726141925/http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/15/us-pope-usa-interfaith-idUSN1438604520080415 |archive-date=26 July 2012 }}</ref>